Lagos Police Kill Five Robbery Suspects

August 21, 2011 LAGOS — It was the end of the road for a seven-man robbery gang  in Shomolu area of Lagos, Sunday, after five of its suspected members were shot dead during a gun duel with the Police.

Meanwhile, another unidentified man was reportedly shot dead by the gang during an operation around Fola Agoro axis of Shomolu.
Vanguard learnt that the armed men intercepted some vehicles at about noon, ordered the victims to lie face down as they were being dispossessed of their valuables.

A middle-aged man was said to have pleaded with one of the armed men not to collect the money with him, explaining that  it was borrowed to pay the hospital bill of his ailing wife.

But the attempt led to his being shot dead by one of the robbers, on discovering that he recognised him.

Meanwhile, a team of Policemen from Alade division led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mr Johnson Nwola, on receiving the distress call, stormed the scene only to discover that the robbers had zoomed off in one of their victims’ vehicle.

Spokesman for the State Police Command, Mr Samuel Jinadu, said the policemen eventually caught up with the robbers who were at the verge of snatching another Honda Civic SUV car from a motorist around Shomolu,thereby leading to a shoot-out.

“At the end of the shoot-out, five members of the gang were fell by the police while the rest escaped.

Eighty-nine cartridges,one Beretta pistol , another ricado pistol, two locally made cut-to size guns, assorted charms and a cap were recovered ”Jinadu said.

As at 4pm, bodies of the suspected robbers were still at the division, for onward transfer to the morgue. That of the victim according to Jinadu had been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital mortuary,adding that policemen were still on the trail of the fleeing suspects.