The police command in Delta says it has killed a member of a three-man robbery syndicate in Ekpan, Uvwie LGA.

The command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, told journalists in Warri on Tuesday that the suspect was shot on Friday while trying to escape.

He said the undercover surveillance patrol team of the police of Ekpan Division was on a routine patrol on the Army Barracks Link Road when they met the suspected robbery gang.

According to him, the suspects, riding in a tricycle, on May 13, double-crossed the vehicle conveying the police team in their usual style, not knowing they were policemen.

“But on noticing that they were policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels. The police team chased them, and in the process, one of the suspects was arrested with a black bag containing one cut-to-size double barrel gun with two live cartridges,” he said.

Mr Edafe said upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that the other two accomplices, who escaped from the tricycle, were his gang members.

According to the police spokesman, the suspect said they either robbed their victims or sometimes kidnap them in the metropolis.

Mr Edafe said following the confession of the suspect, the police ordered him to take them to their hideout at the NNPC Link Road, Ekpan.

“On their way to the hideout, the suspect jumped into the bridge in an attempt to escape and was maimed by the police operatives.

“The suspect was taken to the Ekpan General Hospital for medication but was there confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” he said.

Mr Edafe said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.

(NAN)