The police command in Gombe State says its operatives have killed a suspected armed robber in a gun battle, recovering an AK-47 rifle from the robber.

ASP. Sharif Sa’ad, the assistant public relations officer of the command, made the disclosure on Thursday while displaying the body of the deceased alongside other suspects at the command’s headquarters in Gombe.

Mr Sa’ad said the dead robber was a member of a five-man gang terrorising the state.

He said the suspect was shot dead by officers attached to the Bojude Division of the command, who foiled a robbery operation along the Gombe-Degeze road at 1.45 a.m. on Thursday.

According to Mr Sa’ad, other members of the gang escaped with some items stolen from truck drivers and other motorists, noting that efforts were being made to arrest them.

“On Thursday at about 1.45 a.m., information was received from a trailer driver along the Gombe Bojude axis that some suspected armed robbers have blocked Gombe- Degeze road and robbing drivers and passengers of their property.

“On receipt of the information, police operatives attached to Bojude Division, who were on routine patrol, rushed to the scene on a rescue mission.

“On getting to the scene, the armed robbers engaged the operatives in a gun duel but were subdued by the fire-power of the police, who succeeded in neutralising one of the robbers while others escaped.”

Mr Sa’ad said that an AK-47 rifle and a mobile phone were recovered from the deceased as exhibits while the corpse would be deposited at the morgue.

The police command also paraded 17 other suspects for various offences, ranging from criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, inciting disturbances, cult-related activities, trespass and shop-breaking, amongst others.

The spokesman said that the suspects had confessed to their crimes and that the cases would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

“A dane gun, one knife, a torchlight, two cutlasses, two knives and a sword were recovered from the suspects as exhibits.”

He restated the command’s commitment to continue to work tirelessly to ensure that criminals were brought to justice and that the state remained safe and secure for all residents.

(NAN)