Nigerian Police Smash Robbery Gang

The police at Dolphin Division, Ikoyi, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, have shot one robber dead and arrested three others during a gun battle, while one managed to escape with bullet wounds.

The incident, according to a police source, occurred  when the police responded to a distress call from a couple residing on Surulere Street, Dolphin Estate, that a 5-man robbery gang was robbing them.

On sighting the police team, a  member of the gang reportedly opened fire on the cops, and they responded, shot one dead and arrested three others who sustained bullets wounds.

Items recovered from the suspects, according to the police, include 22 handsets, 19 wrist watches, 2 laptops, 2 Ipods, N106,000, burglary instruments such as chisel, screw drivers, hammers and five saw blades. The suspects were identified as John Chukwu, a resident of Wilmer Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos; Chedra Onwunchewe who resides at Odofin Street, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Lagos; Emmanuel (the slain robber) and Langa of no fixed address.

In his alleged preliminary confessional statement to the police, Joseph allegedly told the police: “We had successfully robbed two apartments on the same street before our arrest

“We struck based on information we received from a source on the same street that the couple just arrived from London with huge sums of money, but we were disappointed as the information turned out to be false.

“We planned the operation on Obalende Road, Ikoyi where we slept with prostitutes till 3am before we moved for the operation according to the instruction of our informant.

“Our fleeing gang member escaped with our two pistols.”

When P.M.NEWS called at the Dolphin Police Station to see the DPO for comments over the incident, he was said to have gone out, but a police source confirmed the incident and said the suspects would be transferred to the Lagos State Police Command Anti-Robbery Squad office for proper investigation. Following the development residents of Dolphin Estate have commended the DPO, SP Musa Abdullahi and his men for doing a good job.

—Paul Iyoghojie