Police kill 3 bank robbers, intercept 753 GPMG ammunition in Abakaliki, recover 2 AK47, 5 pump action guns, 6 pistols

Three bank robbers were killed by the Police in an intelligence action on a robbery operation at Commercial Bank in Onueke.

The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force from the Ebonyi State Police Command had intercepted 753 live ammunition of General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) concealed in a sac being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to Umuahia, Abia State. Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Frank Mba, in a statement on Sunday highlighted that the intelligence-driven covert operation, which led to the interception and recovery of the deadly ammunition, is part of efforts by the Force to identify and crack down on criminal networks and supply chains for weapons and ammunition in and around the country. Ge added that comprehensive investigations aimed at bringing to book all persons linked to the crime are ongoing.

CP Mba further disclosed that following investigations into the foiled bank robbery on the Onueke branch of a commercial bank in Ebonyi State which occurred on Tuesday, 27^th April, 2021; Police operatives led by the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, on 29th April, 2021, stormed the criminal hideout of suspects indicted in the investigations located at Oriuzo village in Ezza North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. The suspects, Mba said, on sighting the Police squad, opened fire on them.

“The Police team engaged them gallantly and professionally. At the end, three members of the gang, including two males and one female met their waterloo following bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire. “Other suspects fled in different directions,” Mba said.

According to CP Mba, two Ak47 riffles, five pump action guns, six pistols, 50 Ak47 ammunition, one 126 cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered. He added that a Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg No. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the Police Team.

Unrelenting in their quest to apprehend the remaining suspects, the Police team traced the suspects to a shrine where the robbers usually go for mystical powers before embarking on their robbery operations, the FPRO said. He disclosed that two of the suspects were eventually arrested from the supposedly safe haven – the shrine, which led to the arrest of additional three members of the gang.

“Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and their spiritual godfather – the chief priest of the shrine,” Mba said.

The Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, while commending the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Aliyu Garba, and officers of the command, for excellently harnessing intelligence to nip the crimes in the bud, assured citizens of the renewed commitment of the Force to improving public safety and combating all forms of violent crimes across the land.