Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
The Imo State Police Command on Thursday said a suspect robbing students at Sokotext Lodge along Amaeze Road, by Federal Polytechnic Nekede Back-gate, was shot onTuesday.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri.
The command said it received a distress call and its operatives moved into action, and on getting there the suspects opened fire on them, and in the course of the gun battle one of the suspected robbers was gunned down.
“In a follow up to a distress call received on 18/04/2023 at about 0430hrs, from the Command’s Emergency control room that robbery was on going at Sokotext Lodge, along Amaeze Road, by Federal Polytechnic Nekede back-gate, operatives of Nekede Police Divisional Headquarters swiftly mobilised to the scene.
“The hoodlums opened fire on sighting the operatives, but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the Police who engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel that led to one of the armed robbery syndicate being neutralised and others escaping to the adjourning bush with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
“On searching the surroundings, the following items were recovered: one locally-made pistol, one machete, one mask, criminal charms, four laptops, three power banks, one IPhone, three pairs of canvass, two bags, clothes and beverages and a pair of palm slippers. The corpse was recovered and deposited at Federal Medical Center Owerri.”
Police said discreet investigation was ongoing and concerted effort intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and bring them to face the full wrath of the law.
