Five Suspected armed robbers were on Monday morning engaged the Maitama police division on a shot out, a police source said a distress call was received at the control room at about 4.30am that armed robbers were operating, and five different patrol teams led by the Maitama Divisional Police Officer, Chief Superintendent Danladi Isa mobilised to the scene.
“The police cordoned off the house, and the robbers escaped through the back fence into a canal. The canal was thoroughly combed and in the process, there was exchange of fire. Five of the suspects were fatally injured. The police immediately arrested them but on their way to General Hospital Maitama, they gave up the ghost,” the source said.
One of the victims, Mrs. Ruby Aduku, a housewife, informed our reporter that she suddenly saw three men with torchlight.
She said they requested for money and she gave them five hundred dollars and five thousand naira cash.
Aduku said one of them went into the wardrobe and drawer where her husband kept his things and took some of their belonging which include handsets, her husband’s wears, his wristwatches, her jewelleries among other things.
“Few minutes after they left, I started knocking at my neighbour’s house, informing them that we have been robbed not knowing that it was one of the robbers I was speaking with. Then the robbers ran after me. By that time, I had given up so I started shouting for help before police officers came,” she stated.
Another victim, Mrs. Titilayo Osinowo, who just returned to the country, said the robbers parked her jewelleries, phones, laptops, adding that they were tied up but one of the robbers told the others not to shoot them.
When contacted, the Maitama Divisional Police Officer, Chief Superintendent Danladi Isah, confirmed the story and said items recovered from the suspects include Ipad, five laptops and five bags.
Other items recovered from them were nine handsets, one Samsung camera, three wristwatches, one bangle, one sharp AC remote, one DSTV decoder, three laptop chargers, two locally made pistols, one cutter, one live cartridge and one palm sandals.
He said the five suspects died while they were being taken to Maitama General Hospital and that their corpses have been deposited at the mortuary for examination and further actions.
“Since I resumed as the Divisional Police Officer in Maitaima, I have used very good strategic moves to fight the criminals. These include intelligence gathering, surveillance, regular patrols including vehicular and foot patrols as well as stop and search. I want to categorically state that there is no hiding place for armed robbers in Maitaima and its environs. Residents should always be their brother’s keepers. They should contact us at Maitama division on 08147755776, 07051971460, 08120886243 and 08073390982 in case of emergencies,” he said.
Confirming the story, the FCT police spokesperson, Hyelhira Altine Danielthe, a Deputy Superintendent, said the suspects attacked different houses.
She said one of the wives of the victims told their husband that armed robbers had entered the compound.
“The man called the police emergency numbers on 08061581938, 07057337653, 08032003913 and 08028940883 and the police immediately responded. The armed robbers escaped into the canal and immediately they saw the police, they opened fire at them. There was serious gun battle between the police and the robbers,’’ she narrated.
She said the five suspects sustained serious injuries and when they were being taken to Maitama General Hospital, two out of the five armed robbers confessed that they were the men terrorizing Maitama and its environs.
“They died on their way to the hospital. We call on the FCT residents to make good use of the numbers provided by the Commissioner of Police for prompt response,’’ she advised.
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