Police, soldiers kill two in failed robbery attack

The Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday said two armed robbers were killed after they engaged a team of policemen and soldiers in a shootout on Stadium Road in the Elekahia area of Port Harcourt.

Six members of the gang were also arrested by the security operatives.

The armed robbers were said to have trailed a bullion van from the Diamond Bank in the Trans-Amadi area with the intent of attacking the vehicle and operatives manning it.

It was gathered that the robbers, who came in Nissan Primera and red Jetta cars, were noticed by security operatives, who trailed them.

PUNCH Metro gathered that when their intentions became clear to the policemen and soldiers at the Elekahia area, they opened fire on the robbers, killing two and arresting six. The incident occurred at about 1pm.

A source said, “We learnt that the armed robbers were trailing the bullion van from Trans-Amadi, but unknown to them, some policemen and soldiers noticed and trailed them.

“The sound of gunshots around that Stadium Road scared everybody, but in the end, people saw that the police were fighting armed robbers who were trying to attack a bullion van.”

 The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, said apart from killing two armed robbers and arresting six of them, two pistols and two cars were recovered from them.

“Today at about 1pm, the police and army operatives foiled a planned robbery attack on a bullion van on Stadium Road, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.

“After the exchange of gunfire, two of the suspects died from bullet wounds, while six others were arrested.

“Two pistols, a Primera saloon car and one red Jetta car were recovered from the suspected criminals,” Muhammad said.

He added that the police had begun investigation with a view to arresting other members of the gang and bringing them to book.