By Jon Egie
Friday, May 31, 2024 was bad day for a gang of armed robbers who in their usual way, attempted to double cross a vehicle along Army Barracks Link Road Off Refinery Road, Ekpan thinking the vehicle occupants were simple soft target citizens that they could easily rob of their cash and personal belongings and get away.
But it turned out that the occupants were undercover Operatives of the Nigeria Police attached to Ekpan Police Station that were on routine surveillance patrol.
As soon as the Armed robbers realised the true identity of their anticipated victims they took to their heels and were given a hot chase by the Operatives.
One member of the 3-man gang was arrested while efforts to catch the other two fleeing was being intensified, PPRO of Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright said in a statement issued by him.
A black bag with a cut-to- size double barrel gun containing two live cathridges was recovered from the arrested armed robber.
The suspect confessed that apart from robbing innocent citizens of their cash and personal belongings, they also engaged in kidnapping of victims when they double crossed their vehicles in the manner did.
The suspect led Operatives to their hideout along NNPC Link Road during which he attempted to escape by jumping off the bridge into the river but was demobilised and maimed and was later confirmed dead by medics at the General Hospital Ekpan where he was taken for treatment.
There had been series of complaints about the activities of armed robbers in the area prompting the Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi to deploy tactical teams to complement the efforts of the Divisional Police officers there.