The Ogun State Police Command on Sunday killed a suspected armed robber along the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway during a gun duel.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.
Odutola disclosed that some suspected robbers had blocked the highway opposite Western University when the police received a tip-off.
She said that upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer in the area mobilised his men to the scene and engaged the suspects in a gun duel.
Odutola added that one of the robbers was neutralised during the exchange of fire, while his accomplices fled with gunshot wounds.
She said, “The Divisional Police Officer (Odogbolu) received a report that armed robbers had blocked the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode highway opposite Western University before the multiple bridges.
“Immediately after the information was received, he mobilised his patrol team in collaboration with patrol teams from Obalende and Amotekun, who responded swiftly to the situation.
“During the encounter, one of the robbers was fatally injured, while others escaped through a nearby bush with bullet wounds.”
The PPRO added that a gun was recovered from the scene as evidence, while the body of the neutralised robber was deposited at the government hospital’s morgue in the area.
She stressed that a manhunt for the fleeing suspects had begun while assuring the safety of commuters along the highway.
“A ghost gun was recovered from the scene, and the corpse of the neutralised robber has been deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital Morgue.
“Efforts are currently underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects, and further developments will be communicated.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered continued patrol and monitoring of the highway to ensure the safety of commuters,” she added.
TheNigerian Online reported on January 30 that the anti-kidnapping unit of the command killed five kidnappers, while others reportedly escaped with bullet wounds when its operatives engaged them in a gun duel as they terrorised travellers along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Odutola disclosed that items recovered from the kidnappers included one AK-47 rifle, 10 rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition, N5.2m (suspected to be proceeds of crime), and three mobile phones.
