Police operatives of the Ogun state Police Command in the early hours of Friday shot dead an armed robbery suspect along the Sagamu/Benin expressway.
The suspected robber was shot dead following a distress call received by the police in Ijebu-Ife at about 2:45am that a gang of armed robbers in military camouflage had blocked the expressway and were dispossessing motorists of their valuables.
Upon the information, the DPO Ijebu Ife, CSP Raphael Ugbenyo, quickly mobilised his anti-robbery team as well as a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad to the scene, on sighting the policemen, the robbers engaged them in a gun battle, which lasted for about 30 minutes.
At the end of the encounter, one of the hoodlums was shot dead while others escaped into the nearby bush with varying degree of gun shot injuries.
Recovered from the scene are: two mock guns, a cell phone, assorted charms and a torchlight.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said in a statement that the corpse of the dead robber has been deposited in the mortuary, while efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun, who praised his men for their gallantry display, had directed the thorough combing of the entire area so as to bring the escaped members of the gang to justice.
The police commissioner also appealed to the general public, especially hospitals, to alert the police whenever anyone with bullet injury is seen in their area.
The police boss, therefore, reiterated his earlier warning to criminals to steer clear of Ogun State as the command is ready more than ever to take the battle to their door steps.