The Delta State Police Command says it has killed one suspected bandit involved in the killing of two policemen and setting ablaze their patrol van on Sunday.
The spokesperson for the Command, DSP Bright Edafe in a statement said two other suspects were arrested on Monday after a combined team of the police supported by the army and vigilantes engaged them in a fierce gun battle at their hideout at Erewa community bush in Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.
DSP Edafe in the statement said, “In response to the attack on Police operatives attached to Dragon Patrol team on 23/7/2023, at about 1140hours while on stop and search duty at Oleh roundabout by suspected bandits, who shot and killed two operatives and set the patrol vehicle ablaze, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Wale Abass, detailed a combined team of Policemen attached to Ozoro Area command, Dragon patrol to go after the attackers.
“With the support of troops from the Nigerian Army, 63 Brigade and members of the local vigilante the men swung into action. During the operation, the combined team engaged the hoodlums in a serious gun duel and subdued the hoodlums who fled into the bush having been inflicted gunshot injuries.
“The team traced their blood to a river where one AK-47 rifle was recovered on the same date of the incident. The response team sustained the tempo and continued the operation on 24/7/2023.
“Acting on credible intelligence, they stormed Erewa community bush in Isoko North Local Government Area, where they engaged the remnant of the bandits in serious gun duel, neutralized one of them, arrested two others, recovered two more AK-47 rifles, one Assault rifle, four magazines and twelve 7.62 AK-47 ammunition.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass has assured residents that the Command will not relent in the fight against crime and criminality while counting on their support to ensure that the State is safe for all.
