8 Die As Police, Armed Robbers Exchange Gunfire In Akwa Ibom

UYO, Dec 02, (THEWILL) - No fewer than eight persons were yesterday reported killed in a fierce gun battle between an armed robbery gang and the Joint Force of the police and the army, in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State. According to the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Sani Magaji, a gang of suspected armed robbers who had terrorized residents of the state capital and environs had invaded the city at about 7.00pm on December 01, 2010, in a Mercedes Benz sedan 190 series with registration number, AJ 395 RGM and a Mercedes Benz sedan 200 with the intention of robbing an unnamed first generation bank in the state. On sighting operatives of the Joint Force who were stationed along Oron Road after a tip off, the hoodlums according to the commissioner opened fire but were repelled by the operatives, who matched them killing three of the robbers. A break down of the number of the deceased persons by the state police commissioner, Mr. Sani Magaji, showed that three hoodlums, three passers by, including a young girl as well as a police inspector lost their lives in the cause of the shoot out adding that a few of the hoodlums escaped but with serious bullet wounds even as a mobile police officer who was also wounded is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. Items recovered from the suspected hoodlums include 1000 rounds of live ammunitions and two vehicles amongst others. Mr. Magaji, who resumed office barely one week as the new Police Commissioner in the state, while addressing journalists renewed his determination to reduce crime I the state. He however called on the public to always make available timely information to the police for prompt intervention.