The police in Delta State have reportedly killed a suspected armed robber during a robbery operation in the Udu Local Government Area of the state.
It was learnt that the deceased was a member of an armed robbery gang terrorising residents of Orhunwhorhun in the Udu area of the state.
The incident, according to sources, occurred on Tuesday.
Sources said the new Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ovwian/Aladja Police Station, Anieteh Eyoh, and his men informed of an ongoing robbery operation by residents of the area.
The police, in collaboration with the local vigilante group in the area, reportedly ambushed the hoodlums, who were fleeing the scene.
The gunmen were alleged to have engaged the police in a gun battle resulting in the killing of one of the suspects.
A member of the vigilante group in the area told Southern City News that other members of the gang escaped.
A locally-made cut-to-size gun was said to have been recovered from the hoodlum during the clash.
A vigilante said, “The suspected armed robbers, on sighting the policemen and some of our members, immediately opened fire on us as they were escaping from the area. One of them was killed in the process. We suspect that other members of the gang were also injured.
“The gang has been terrorising our area for long. With the redeployment of the new DPO to Ovwian/Aladja Divisional Police Headquarters, we knew that their days were numbered.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, confirmed the incident on Thursday.
Residents of the Udu Local Government Area have commended the command for deploying Eyoh, a Chief Superintendent of Police, to the Ovwian/Aladja Police Station.
The residents urged the new DPO to tackle cultism and youth restiveness in the area, particularly in Ovwian, Orhunwhorhun, Aladja, Owase and other neighbouring communities due to the spate of killings and cult attacks in the area.
One of the residents, Mr Kevwe Akpomedaye, said, “We no longer sleep with two eyes closed in Udu, particularly in Orhunwhorhun, Aladja, Ovwian and Owase.
“We are glad that CSP Eyoh was transferred to this local government area. We know of how he and his men brought down the activities of criminals in Warri and Uvwie. We beg him to replicate same here.”
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