Three Killed As Police, Armed Robbers Engage in Gun Battle

No fewer than three persons believed to be members of an armed robbery gang died in a duel involving them and the police.

The robbery gang was alleged to have been terrorising residents of Oke-Baale in Osogbo, Osun State.

Police sources told our correspondent that men of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) led by DSP Adekunle Omoyele, had received a distress call when they went in search of the robbery gang.

Residents of the area told our correspondent that the robbers came to attack and they called the police for assistance.

They also claimed that the armed robbers injured some of people and carted away personal belongings at different locations.

Among the victims of the armed robbers’ actions were a female, Adeosun Kolapo, 39 and two males – Kareem Adebayo, 35 and Owolabi Mohammed, 25.

Narrating how the incident happened, the police squad said they were combing the bush in search of the armed robber when they noticed that a bus and a Lexus car was trying to maneuver.

“It wanted to escape behind the bus earlier waved down by the SARS men for a thorough search,” one of the squad member said.

While the SARS squad immediately gave them a hot chase, the robbers abandoned a Toyota Camry car with registration number LND 847 AJ, Golden colour.

To gain escape, the robbers in the Lexus car shot sporadically at the Police but failed their attempt to overtake for possible escape.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Folasade Odoro (DSP) confirmed the incident.

She said that the robbers were pursued by the police to a place close to Egbeda where they engaged the team in a gun shootout.

She added, “During the gun duel three of the bandits received bullet wounds and died in the process while others who escaped with their arms had bullet wounds.

“The police recovered the following items from the car digger, knife, blackberry, assorted phones, laptop, criminal charms, male underwears, stabilizer, N36,000, rough naira notes, a driver’s licence belonging to the female victim, 3 ATM cards, one cut to size double barrel gun with 7 life cartridges and 5 expended cartridges.”

She noted that the lifeless bodies of the robbers were identified by the victims of robberies and attacks.

Odoro however urged the resident of the state to report anybody with found with bullet wounds to the nearest police station for necessary action.
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