3 notorious armed robbers who attacked and dispossessed a family of their valuables at Mabolaje area of Oyo town few hours to the last Eid-el-Kabir had met their unfortunate end, according to the Oyo State command.
The state police command disclosed at a press conference that the robbers met their end at the hands of the operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The three armed robbers, whose identities were unknown, were said to have robbed the household of one Adeniran (surname withheld) at gun point. According to the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State during a press briefing recently, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Oyo/Ogbomoso annex received information at about 9 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2014 that five armed robbers had invaded the residence of Adeniran and had dispossessed him and his household of a Toyota Corolla car with registration number FKY 523 QB, the sum of N375,000, phones and other valuables.
Based on the report, Mr Shodipo said, the SARS operatives went towards the direction they were told the hoodlums took and engaged them in a gun duel, resulting in three of them sustaining serious gun injuries while two escaped. The injured suspects reportedly gave up the ghost while being taken to the hospital for medical attention.
Recovered from them were one double barrel pistol, one single barrel pistol, 10 live cartridges, four expended cartridge shells and two toy guns.
Crime Reports learnt that before the armed robbers stormed the house, they had earlier called Adeniran’s wife on the phone, telling her that they had details about her and were going to kill her. When she asked them what her offence was, the hoodlums were said to have dismissed her, threatening to get her even if she thought she would hide. She was said to have reported the threat to the police.
On Friday, October 3, 2014, the woman was at home with her husband in preparation for Sallah the following day. She was said to have sent some of her relations with her on an errand and as they were entering the gate of their residence, the armed robbers who were already lurking in the dark, followed them in at about 8.50 p.m.
It was further gathered that they started asking for the woman, demanding for N6.5 million. By that time, some of those in the house, including the woman, went to hide while they quickly put a call through to their relations that armed robbers were in their house. The armed robbers reportedly collected N75,000 from the woman’s husband, fished the woman out and collected N300,000 from her but still demanded more, threatening to kill her and her husband.
They were said to have collected the key of the woman’s car and left, while one of them who had their loot with him went away on foot. Crime Reports learnt that by the time the incident was reported at SARS, Oyo and the operatives went to the scene, the hoodlums had left. Not deterred by this, the SARS operatives gave them a chase though they could not shoot immediately because they were in a residential area.
But by the time they got to an environment that was not residential, the armed robbers who saw that the police were determined to get them started firing shots. These were replied by the police, and the driver among the hoodlums was the most hit. He was said to have lost control of the car, hitting an electric pole.
They were immediately rounded up by the operatives and taken to hospital but died before they could get medical attention. The police commissioner stated that there was serious manhunt for the fleeing member of the gang.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune.