A two-man armed robbery gang that had allegedly been terrorising residents of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State met their end on Wednesday after engaging the police in a fierce gun duel.
The incident occurred near the Tribune House at Imalefalafia area of Ibadan, where officers of the police monitoring unit intercepted the suspects. The shootout, which lasted several minutes, left one of the robbers dead while the other sustained severe injuries and was later apprehended.
According to Nigerian Tribune, earlier at Anfaani, the suspects had attacked a Muslim cleric, popularly known as Alfa, who was carrying a sack containing motorcycle parts. The gang, allegedly mistaking the contents for money, shot Alfa before fleeing towards Imalefalafia.
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An eyewitness explained that the suspects stopped at a vulcaniser’s stand under the guise of inflating their motorcycle tyres, while one of them engaged a Point of Sale (POS) operator in a conversation.
Another witness, Seye Adeniyi, who claimed he saw the attack on Alfa, told Nigerian Tribune that residents immediately alerted the police at Iyaganku. He added that officers quickly mobilised and trailed the suspects.
“With information gathered, the policemen drafted to the area laid ambush around Tribune House where the robbers were suspected to be planning another attack,” Adeniyi explained.
“On sighting the policemen, one of the robbers drew his pistol and opened fire, injuring a policeman. The officers returned fire, and with the help of bystanders, the robbers were overpowered,” he said.
According to reports, one of the robbers, who carried a backpack containing a pistol, cartridges, charms, and bracelets, was fatally shot and died on the spot. His motorcycle rider, however, was arrested alive after several attempts to flee.
Adeniyi further alleged that the same gang might have been behind a previous attack that claimed the life of his friend.
“Today, I was around Ring Road when we heard gunshots. We saw men on a motorcycle fleeing after shooting a man carrying a sack, which later turned out to contain motorcycle parts. We rushed the injured man to hospital and tried to track the robbers. By the time we got to Imalefalafia, the police had already laid ambush. Moments later, gunfire erupted, leaving a robber and a policeman wounded. The robber, who led the gang, died,” he recounted.
“Upon searching him, we discovered live ammunition, charms, and large sums of money among other items,” Adeniyi added.
Another eyewitness, Mr. Olusesi Olusola, said he was among those who rushed the injured policeman to a nearby clinic. He confirmed that the deceased robber put up stiff resistance before being subdued by police officers with the support of residents.
Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation, a senior police officer who preferred not to be named said the suspects had been on the command’s watchlist.
“Today at Imalefalafia in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, a notorious armed robbery gang engaged our men in a shootout. During the exchange of fire, one of the suspects was neutralised, while the second, who sustained critical injuries, is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital,” the officer stated.
“Our men are monitoring his recovery to obtain vital information that will aid our investigation. The gang has long been linked to several armed robbery incidents in the area, and we believe this breakthrough will put an end to their activities in Ibadan and surrounding communities,” he concluded.
