Police Foil Bank Robbery In Rivers

Men of the Rivers State Police Command yesterday foiled a robbery attack, killing one suspected robber during the exchange of fire with the gang in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

LEADERSHIP WEEKEND learnt that the gang of robbers had gone to rob a new generation bank located along Olu-Obasanjo Road in the state capital when a team of policemen, who acted promptly to a distress call arrived the scene.

However, it was not clear as at the time of filing this report if one of the policemen, who was wounded during the gun battle with the hoodlums, had given up the ghost.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr. Benjamin Ugwuegbulem, said immediately one of the robbers was gunned down, other members of the gang fled, leaving behind one of the vehicles they came with.

Ugwuegbulem said; “Our men responded to a distress call from a bank (name withheld) at Ikoku along Olu Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt. However, unknown to them, the gang had laid ambush and opened fire on the patrol team upon arrival at the scene. In the ensuing gun battle, one of the gang members was shot dead and a Policeman was also fatally wounded.

“As the gun battle raged on, the hoodlums who came with three vehicles were overpowered by the team and they ran away with two of their operational vehicles, including the corpse of their dead gang member, leaving behind a Gulf 3 car and one FNC rifle.”