The Police Command in Delta has confirmed the killing of three robbery suspects, after a gun battle with operatives on Sunday in Umunede village, near Agbor.

The spokesperson of the command, Bright Edafe, said on Monday in Asaba that three of the five suspects sustained serious gunshot wounds and died in the hospital.

“The injured hoodlums were taken to the hospital but died while receiving treatment, while the police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang,” Mr Edafe said.

He said the incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m. after the command’s Rapid Response Squad operatives on patrol came under attack from hoodlums along Asaba/Benin expressway.

“The suspects, numbering about five, suddenly emerged from the bush around Umunede and fired gunshots at the bus in an attempt to rob and possibly kidnap the occupants.

“However, unknown to them that the occupants were undercover police operatives, the police team smartly disembarked from the vehicle and returned fire,” Mr Edafe said.

He further stated that the armed hoodlums, on realising that their potential victims were policemen, ran into the bush.

He said the police team went into a fierce gun battle with the hoodlums, during which three members of the gang were fatally wounded and arrested.

“The team recovered one fabricated revolver pistol, six 7.62mm live ammunition, while four expended 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from them,” he added.

(NAN)