The Anambra State Police Command in two separate operations killed four armed robbers on Wednesday, one of them a female, while also arresting two others.

The three suspects died in a gun battle with the police patrol team along Amawbia – Nibo Road, while the female robber died in Asaba when her gang engaged men of the Special Anti-Robbery (SARS) from Anambra Command, in a shootout.

Speaking with journalists, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ali Okechukwu, said the police in the Asaba operation arrested one alive with bullet wounds.

He disclosed that the Delta State Police Command arrested and handed over a kingpin of a five-man armed robbery gang popularly called Obisma to the Anambra State SARS and on interrogation the suspect, whom he described as most wanted, confessed to series of armed robbery operations and car snatching within and outside Anambra State.

“He opted to lead operatives to Asaba, Delta State for possible arrest of his gang members and recovery of operational weapons. On getting to the area, members of the gang attacked our men and during the gun battle one of them identified as Chuma Anyichie and an unidentified female were arrested with severe bullet injuries but the female died few minutes later at the scene,” the PPRO said.

According to Okechukwu, three vehicles, several ammunitions including AK47 raffle and magazines, 24 rounds of live ammunition, two locally made guns, five cartridges and charms were recovered from the gang.

He said that the leader of the gang and the other suspect with bullet wounds were currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the state; while efforts are being heightened to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

On the operation in Awka, the PPRO noted that the five-man gang were operating along Amawbia – Nibo Road, robbing people of their bags and valuables when the police patrol team ran into them adding that the suspects on sighting them opened fire and made to escape but was pursued by the crack team that brought them down.

“It was a five-man gang and three was brought down and the other two escaped,” he said.

While residents of the state of the Command’s resolve to rid the state of violent crimes and robbery, Okechukwu urged residents of the state to collaborate more with the police by providing useful and timely information on any security matter.

•Photo shows Anambra Police Commissioner Hosea Karma (c) with bodyguards while leading an operation.

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