Police kill three ‘bank robbers’, recover ammunition in Ebonyi

Officers of the Ebonyi state police command have killed three suspected armed robbers in connection with a foiled bank robbery.

Last Tuesday, the gang had attempted to rob a commercial bank at the Onueke area of the state.

Frank Mba, spokesperson of the police, in a statement on Sunday, said operatives attached to Ebonyi police command stormed the gang’s hideout in Ezza North LGA, and on sighting the police they were said to have opened fire, which led to the death of three of them.

The operatives also recovered two AK-47 rifles, five pump action guns, and other ammunition from the gang.

“The suspects on sighting the Police squad opened fire on them. The Police team engaged them gallantly and professionally. At the end, three (3) members of the gang including two (2) male and one (1) female met their waterloo following bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire. Other suspects fled in different directions,” the statement said.

“Two (2) Ak47 rifles, five (5) pump action guns, six (6) pistols, fifty (50) Ak47 ammunition, one hundred and twenty-six (126) cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered. A Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg No. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the police team.”

In another related development, the operatives also intercepted 753 live ammunition of general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) in a sac being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi to Umuahia, Abia state.

“The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command have 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 in Abia State. 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 crackdown,” the statement said.

Also, the operatives arrested two suspects of armed robbery in a shrine in Ebonyi, while the three members of the gang and the traditionalist fled the shrine when operatives stormed the scene.

In recent times, Ebonyi has witnessed a spate of killings and arson, especially attacks on police attacks.