By Emma Una

CALABAR—ONE robbery suspect was killed, one in critical condition and five others arrested by police in Calabar, yesterday, during an exchange of fire after the robbers attacked a microfinance bank in Calabar South.

The robbers, according to Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Ozi Obe Jimoh, attacked the bank in two cars at 3p.m., and police responded to a distress call. But when policemen got there, the robbers had escaped.

Some of the arrested bank robbery susects.

He said: “We got a distress call that robbers had attacked a micro finance bank and a filling station in the Calabar South area, and my men responded. But by the time they got there, the robbers had left.

“However, an eyewitness described the car used by the robbers as a black Toyota Camry and my men went in pursuit.”

Jimoh said police caught up with them at the Marina area of the city and the robbers opened fire, leading to exchange of gunfire between police and the hoodlums. One of the robbers died, another was injured, while others were arrested.

He gave the name of the dead robbery suspect as Alex, while one taken to the emergency unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital as Brown Efiok.

He said the robbers also attacked a filling station close to the bank and were also collecting handbags from people along the route through which they escaped after the robberies.

He added that “they had juju on them, which gave them the confidence to confront my men. But through our superior fire power, their juju failed them.”

He warned that the police will not relent to ensure that peace-loving people of the city enjoy a peaceful Christmas free of crime.