18th July, 2011
The combined police/army anti-robbery squad of the Benue State Police Command code named “Operation Zenda†has shot and killed a robber.
A press release signed by the Command Public Relations Officer ASP Alaribe Ejike and made available to P.M.NEWS stated that the robber was shot during a gun battle with the police/army squad.
Ejike revealed that the Operation Zenda team based in Kwande acted on information that some robbers had diverted a J5 bus and its occupants into a bush between Ushongo-Adikpo road and were robbing them and they quickly rushed to the area.
The Police PPRO said the robbers who were wearing army uniform on sighting the police opened fire and the police responded rapidly and during the gun duel shot one of the armed robbers who died on the spot while the others escaped into the bush with gunshot wounds.
He therefore called on doctors in hospitals in the state to promptly inform the police about anybody with bullet wounds that comes to them for treatment.
Alaribe said the robbers had one AK47 rifle, 2 English Berretta pistol and one smoke gun, adding that other items recovered from them include three different vehicle plate numbers, 8 rounds of FNC rifle live ammunition, 8 cartridges, one unregistered Toyota Corolla car, one Hyundai car with tinted glasses, one military bullet proof vest, one knife and one Berretta pistol.
By Ubong George/Makurdi