One killed in robbers, police gun battle in Ogun

A suspected armed robber has been shot dead during a gun duel between a robbery syndicate and operatives of Ogun State Police command.

The gun battle which reportedly lasted for 30 minutes left one dead, while others escaped with gunshot injuries.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command , DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident on Tuesday In Abeokuta.

Oyeyemi said the incident happened around 5am on Monday.

He said the police divisional headquarters at Ikenne, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state, received a distress call over a robbery operation.

He added that a group of armed robbers had blocked the road along Olabiro street in Ikenne and dispossessed the people of their valuables at gun point.

According to him, the Divisional Police Officer at Ikenne, CSP Noukauba Onuma, quickly mobilised his patrol team and moved to the scene.u

Oyeyemi said the hoodlums immediately engaged the police officers in a gun duel, leaving one dead.

He said, “on sighting the policemen, the hoodlums engaged them in gun battle which lasted for about 30 minutes at the end of which one of the hoodlums was shot dead while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries.”

He said the police have recovered the body of the robbery suspect, one cut to size locally made gun, one live cartridge and one expended cartridge from the scene.

Oyeyemi added that the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, praised his men for their display of gallantry.

He said the CP had directed that the fleeing members of the gang be hunted and brought to justice within the shortest time possible.

Oyeyemi said, “The Commissioner of Police therefore warned that this should be a warning signal to any would-be criminals who are deluding themselves that police are not working again to have a rethink as the command will go to any length in protecting the good people of Ogun state.”y