Robbers shoot police officer dead in Delta

Suspected armed robbers shot a Deputy Superintendent of Police dead in Asaba on Tuesday in a robbery attempt at a residential neighbourhood in the Delta capital.

The robbery was, however, repelled by men of “Operation Still Water II’’ of the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba.

Col. Ibrahim Gambari, the brigade’s Chief of Staff, paraded the suspects and items recovered from them.

He said 141 suspects were subsequently arrested after Tuesday’s early morning robbery attempt.

He said troops arrested eight of the suspects at the crime scene; two were shot and wounded, while two others fled with bullet wounds.

“At about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, men of “Operation Still Water II’’ responded to a distress call about the robbery.

“We got there and met an exchange of gunfire. The robbers had gunned down a police officer, and our men engaged them in another gun duel.

“In the process, two of the suspects were shot and captured along with eight others, while two others managed to escape with bullet wounds.

“After the incident, troops swooped on criminal hotspots in the area and arrested another 135 suspects.

“We also recovered a locally-made pistol with a live cartridge at the scene of the crime and many items stolen from residents of the neighbourhood.

“After the random arrests, residents identified eight of the suspects as criminal elements terrorising the area,’’ Gambari said.

He said the army had handed over all the suspects to the police for profiling and prosecution.