Police in gunfight kill 2 notorious criminals in Ekpan

* Both were members of Momotimo Gang

By Jon Egie

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have shot dead two notorious criminals who have been on the wanted list of the Command.

The two criminals identified as Gift Famous aka“BOBONE”‘m’ aged 29yrs, and Edafe Friday Onaibe aka ‘LASLAS 1500’‘m’ aged 25yrs of Enerhen, were both members of the dreaded ‘Momotimo’ Gang.

A release issued by the Command’s PPRO, DSP Bright Edafe, said on Friday, December 2, the DPO Ovwian Aladja, CSP Aliyu Shaba, acting on a tip off that two members of the dreaded “Momotimi” Gang were sighted in a Beer Parlour at Opete community in Owvain Aladja, Udu LGA.

“The DPO Ovwian Aladja Division, mobilized and led a team of Police Operatives to the scene where they found the duo of Gift Famous A.K.A “BOBONE” ‘m’ aged 29yrs, and Edafe Friday Onaibe A.K.A ‘LASLAS 1500’ ‘m’ aged 25yrs of Enerhen, both of whom had long been on the Command’s wanted list for their criminal exploit in Warri and other parts of the State.

“The two suspects on sighting the Police fired gunshot at them, in a bid to escape and the Police Operatives returned fire while giving them a hot chase and in the ensuing gun duel, both suspects were fatally wounded.

“However, on their way to the hospital the suspects confessed to several robberies, assassination, including the murder of one Douglas Abugu in Ekpan on August 8, 2022, because he took over the position of quarter chairman from him when he (Gift Famous) was in prison, and he could not get back his position when he returned, hence his decision to kill Douglas.

“He also confessed to the murder of one “small doctor” in the same Ekpan axis on August 22, 2022.

“He further revealed that he was responsible for the attempted kidnap/murder of one man(name withheld) in Ekpan, where they shot him in a bid to kidnap him.

Both suspects, according to the release, who were fatally wounded in the gun duel died before getting to the hospital.

“Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing.” The release added.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali,has solicited for more support from members of the public, especially in the area of giving timely, credible and useful information to the Police. He also advised parents/guardians to caution their children/wards, especially the youths to desist from crime, noting that there is obviously no light at the end of the tunnel for any criminal as the end is always predictably disastrous.