The police command in Anambra says it killed one suspect and recovered a pump action gun and two motorcycles from suspects in Ihiala LGA.

The command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said this on Monday in Onitsha.

According to him, the command special crack squad deployed to Ihiala by the police commissioner weeks before Christmas had foiled an armed robbery operation and killed one of the hoodlums.

“The crack squad, which works with the local vigilante, had restored calm in the ancient city, making it possible for Ihiala sons and daughters who trooped in from the diaspora and elsewhere to enjoy the festive season.

“The encounter with the gunmen occurred on the night of January 12, as they attempted to rob a middle-aged man of his vehicle at Ubiahuikwem, Ihiala in Anambra.

“On sighting the squad, the gunmen who operated on two motorcycles opened fire on the police, and the operatives professionally engaged them to avoid hitting the would-be victim of the armed robbery, who then zoomed off from the scene,” he said.

Mr Ikenga said that one automatic pump action gun and two motorcycles were recovered from the hoodlums.

The police spokesperson said the police commissioner expressed satisfaction with the tremendous work the police squad had done. He charged them not to relent in flushing out all criminal elements out of Ihiala and neighbouring communities like Isseke, Lilu, Orsumoghu and Azia.

He promised the squad continuous logistics support to ensure it fulfilled its mandate. 

(NAN)