A gang of armed robbers who made a desperate attempt to rob a new generation bank along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Awka were promptly repelled by men of the dreaded Operation Kpochapu, the special anti-crime unit of the Anambra State Police Command who gunned down the gang leader.

The robbery gang had struck at about 2am on Friday night but were stunned when the police made a dramatic swoop on them. The robbers opened fire but the men of Operation Kpochapu replied in full force, instantly killing their leader who was later identified as Izu, a notorious armed robber whose men had been behind many raids on churches in Anambra State in the last few years.

The five-man gang of heavily armed robbers fled, leaving behind two AK 47 riffles, one pump action riffle, one cutter and other light arms with which they had hoped to hack their way into the vault of the bank.

When the body of the fallen robbery suspect was taken to premises of the state police command, other robbery suspects in detention quickly identified him as the kingpin of the devilish gang that were notorious in the underworld for specialising in robbing churches.

Izu and his gang are known to have been the heartless criminals that invaded St Anthony of Padua Catholic Chuch, Nkpor in Idemili Local Government Area and the St John’s Catholic Church, Egbo-Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area among other churches.

Governor Willie Obiano has made it clear that “the crackdown on violent criminals will be sustained to keep Anambra State free from crime and we in the Anambra State Police Command are determined to help him achieve that.”

•File photo shows Governor Obiano commissioning vehicles for Operation Kpochapu.