By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—One suspected robber was killed Tuesday when men of Ogun State Police command and a gang of armed robbers engaged in gun battle at Ajede area near J3, along Ijebu Ode/Benin expressway, while other members of the gang allegedly fled with bullet wounds.

Responding to distress call

The Ogun State  Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi,  in a statement yesterday while confirming the clash,  said the anti-crime  patrol team responded to a distress call that  hoodlums had blocked the road with a Toyota bus with number plate NND 529 XA, which had earlier been snatched by the robbers .

He said: “While the robbers asked the commuters to lie down with a view to robbing them, but the robbers were engaged by the police team in a fierce gun duel. The gun duel left one of the robbers dead as a result of superior fire power of the Police.

“After the operation, the commuters were all rescued unhurt and all their belongings were intact. When a search was conducted on the dead robber, a cutlass, five life cartridges and assorted charms were recovered from him.

Operation Safer Highway

“It will be recalled that the Inspector General of Police IGP Solomon Arase recently launched Operation Safer Highway with the distribution of more than 600 patrol vans and logistics to all commands and formations.”

While noting that the  Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Abdulmajid Ali has keyed into the IGP’s vision, Muyiwa Adejobi said the command has deployed more than 40 patrol vans along all the highways in Ogun State.

“The efforts of the command to protect lives and properties of road users within Ogun State have paid off as many highway robbery operations have been thwarted while many suspected robbers arrested,” the CP said.