24th February, 2011
Members of the Rivers State Police Command yesterday had a bloody encounter with armed robbers.
The robbers were operating in a Volkswagen Golf car with registration number AH 908 BGM, coming from Ogbogoro Community and heading towards Egbelu,Ozuoba Port Harcourt.
The incident which happened at about 15.35 hrs, resulted in the death of one of the robbers and recovery of N437,700 cash.
According to sources close to the Rivers Police Command, the robbers who may have operated somewhere in Ogbogoro Community in Obia/Akpor Local Government area ran into a police team and in the ensuing gun battle a police sergeant, Onuora Chukwuma was wounded on the thigh.
The police team responded and quickly called for re-enforcement from Swift Operation Squad, SOS, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and Metro Police from Rumuelumeni Division all led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police Operation, DC ops.
P.M.NEWS sources further stated that the hoodlums abandon their vehicle, their dead colleague and N437,000 cash before escaping into the swampy forest of Elepranwon with multiple injuries.
The police recovered several empty shells of Ak 47 ammunition, two AK 47 rifles and four live ammunition, a mask and a face cap.
It was learnt that the Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Abba has commended the policemen for their gallantry and directed that the fleeing robbers should be tracked down.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Dr. Rita Innoma-Abbey, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident and vowed that the command is well equipped to confront hoodlums.
—Okafor Ofiebor/    Port Harcourt