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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The officers of the tactical teams of the Imo State Police Command led by the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, on Saturday foiled the attack of a seven-man armed robbery gang on Goldwise Stores an outfit in Ikenegbu, Owerri municipal, dealing in jewelry.
The armed robbers met their Waterloo as one suspect was shot dead during a shootout with the police.
It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the popular jewelry shop at Noon.
An eyewitness told our Sunday Sun that the gang of seven which came in a white Hilux jeep while carting away gold worth several millions of naira and other valuables from the shop, encountered the police which cordoned off the area after shooting the driver.
“The gunmen operated in a Hilux bus; they had almost succeeded when they encountered the police who had already cordoned off the area.
“The driver of the gang was shot dead while they exchanged gunshots. There was serious stampede as pedestrians and motorists scampered for safety,”
He added that there was momentary stand-off as police mobilised in search of the suspects.
“I understand the driver of the gang was shot dead by a policeman forcing the four others to flee.
He further said the police also arrested two suspected member of the gang during the operation and recovered ammunition.
The Imo State Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Henry Okoye, confirmed the death of the suspect while parading the two suspects believed to be members of the seven-member gang.
The police spokesman further said: “At the point of arrest, one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, two live ammunition, one military camouflage, and some other military accouterments were recovered from them.”
He said a 27-year-old man, Gaura Peter from Koji State, who is a dismissed soldier, and Joshua Promise, 25, from Delta State were arrested; both men are cooling off in the custody of the police.
