5 Robbers Killed In Lagos

The police in Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria yesterday gunned down five armed robbers in Somolu where they were robbing people of their valuables including handsets and cash.

P.M. NEWS gathered that the robbers numbering seven had attacked customers and workers in a hotel at Fola Agoro area of Somolu.

Their next target was a motor company near the kiosk of a lotto agent. As they forced their victims to lie face down, the lotto operator knew one of them and as he raised his head, he was shot. The lotto operator was seriously injured. He was later rushed to a hospital where he is still receiving treatment.

It was learnt the gunshots and the resultant alarm raised by neighbours attracted the attention of the police at Alade Division, Somolu who then laid an ambush for the robbers.

The anti-robbery squad at the Alade Police Division engaged the robbers in a fierce gun battle while they were about to escape.

Five of the robbers were killed while two managed to escape.

The corpses of the five were later taken in a police van to the Alade Division from where they were transferred to Isolo General Hospital mortuary.

The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Samuel Jinandu said he was aware of the incident when P.M. NEWS contacted him this morning.

Jinandu said the police recovered an SUV which the robbers snatched from its owner at gunpoint.

The PPRO commended the gallantry of the anti-robbery squad of the Alade Police Division and the public whose distress call made it possible for the policemen to ambush the robbers.

—Dedeigbo Ayodeji & Ekene Obidike