By Evelyn Usman

POLICE Lagos weekend, foiled a robbery operation after engaging a 10-man robbery gang in a gun duel at the popular Alaba international market along the Lagos/ Badagry expressway.

Although there was no arrest at the end of the gun battle said to have lasted 15 minutes. 34 AK 47 magazines and 24 live ammunition reportedly abandoned by the robbers who fled in their operational vehicles when it became apparent that the policemen were gaining upper hand, were recovered at the scene.

This is just as another robbery gang engaged some mobile policemen on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) species escort, in a shoot-out on the Eko bridge.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, who confirmed both incidents, said the incident at the Alaba international market occurred at about 2am yesterday. Policemen from Ojo division who were on patrol according to him, accosted the robbers who were at the verge of operating, thereby leading to a shoot-out.

“When the robbers could not face the superior fire power of the police, they abandoned their mission and fled, abandoning their weapons which include 34 AK 47 magazines and 24 live ammunition.”