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By Evelyn Usman and Nwannedinma Onu
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
LAGOS—There was pandemonium Monday night at Mushin area of Lagos after a six-man robbery gang engaged a team of Operation Fire for-Fire policemen in a gun battle.
However at the end of the gun duel said to have lasted for several minutes, leader of the gang, a cripple and his deputy, were gunned down; two were arrested, while the rest escaped.
Traders and commuters at the popular area reportedly sustained injuries while running for their dear lives.
Displaying the corpses and the arrested suspects among who was an undergraduate of the Obafemi Awolowo university, Ile-Ife, before newsmen yesterday at the command’s headquarters, the State’s Police Commissioner , Mr Isreal Ajao said, “on September 13, 2004, at about 2100 hours, the calmness that we have enjoyed in Lagos over a period of time now was temporarily disturbed , when a distress call was received at the Police control room that a gang of six armed robbers , was sighted around Palm groove bus-stop , robbing a yet to be identified woman of her belongings”
The six -man gang said to be operating in a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number XG 457 EKY, reportedly picked their unsuspecting victims from Oshodi , heading for Ojota at about 8.30pm on the fateful day. But midway in to the journey , they reportedly dispossessed the passengers of their cash, G.SM handsets and other valuables at gun point. One of the victims, a pumpkin seller at Oshodi market, who was thrown out of the vehicle on motion, however, escaped being run over by another vehicle. Driver of the vehicle that almost crushed the pumpkin seller, was said to have contacted the police on his GSM handset.”
Upon receipt of the distress call, according to the command’s boss, “ patrol teams were directed to the scene from the control room. This led to a massive manhunt, which saw the police teams pursuing the robbers through Ojota, Alapere, IBB bridge and Adekunle. Nemesis however caught up with the robbers when they decided to fight their way through, around Baba Olosha bus stop, Mushin. In the ensuing gun battle, two robbers; one Lekan and Haruna whose surnames and addresses are yet unknown , were gunned down while another two; one Segun Olawole and Ezekiel Thomas were arrested.
One locally made pistol and the above mentioned operation vehicle was recovered from the robbers. We are still on the trail for other members of the gang who escaped from the scene”.
Mr Ajao therefore enjoined members of the public to emulate the individual who gave the prompt information that led to the achievement.
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