Police operatives in Delta State have neutralized the leader of a notorious armed robbery gang after a gun duel ensued between the police and the criminal elements.
According to the Delta State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, the notorious armed robber popularly known as Getay, and his gang have been on the Command’s wanted list for quite some time.
TheFact Nigeria reports that on Friday, 25th February, 2022, operatives of ‘B’ Division, Warri Patrol Team, while on aberdeen patrol along lower Erejuwa by old Welfare Road, received an information that the notorious gang were operating around the neighborhood.
The team immediately proceeded to the area, where, upon sighting the Police Patrol team, the hoodlums opened fire on the team and the team equally responded. In the ensuing gun duel, Getay sustained gunshot injuries and was taken to the hospital where he gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. One cut-to-size double barrel gun, one live cartridge and two expended cartridges were recovered.
In another development, operatives of Dragon 18 Patrol team, while on routine stop and search duty along ECN/Otu-Jeremi Aladja road, Ewhrekekan Junction, sighted a Mercedes Benz ML 350 and Lexus 350 parked by the road side. Upon close observation of the vehicles, it was discovered that a man in one of the vehicles, having sighted them was frantically trying to communicate with them.
The patrol team swung into action and advanced towards the vehicles when suddenly, they heard gun shots. The team immediately returned fire which resulted in the hoodlums abandoning the victim and escaping into the bush.
The victim, who was rescued by the team, and aged 62, said he was kidnapped earlier that day, Thursday, 24 February, at the entrance of his gate on Afisere road, Ughelli.
One Mercedes Benz ML 350 black colour with Reg. No. EKY 964 DP belonging to the victim, and one AK47 magazine loaded with eight rounds of 7.62 ammunition were recovered.
On the same day, at about 9pm, the DPO Issele-Uku Division, acting on intelligence that Aiye confraternity will be holding their initiation ceremony at Ukwu Nzu forest, detailed a combined team of police and civilian anti-cult to the venue of the initiation and successfully foiled the initiation process.
During the raid, thirteen suspected cultist were arrested, a locally made double barrel shot gun, twenty-five live cartridges, a Toyota Corolla with reg no. GRA 68 SG and a lexus 350 SUV with reg no BDG 689 GQ were recovered. Police said investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, while appreciating members of the public, particularly Deltans, for their immense contributions and support in the fight against crime and criminality in the State, has also urged them to be law abiding.
He also advised the youths to desist from all cult related activities, as cultism is the bedrock of most prevalent crimes in the society today and as such will not be tolerated in the state.
He disclosed that the Command has put all measures in place with a view to bringing an end to cultism in the State. Consequently, he has ordered all Area Commanders, DPOS, Tactical Commanders and the Command Anticult unit to identify cultists’ hideouts, carry out continuous raids, make arrests and ensure that anyone found wanting be made to face the full wrath of the law.
