The Imo State Police has shot and
killed the state’s ‘most-wanted’ armed robber identified as Ihechi Nwankwo.
The spokesman for the state
Police Command, Andrew Enwerem, who spoke to reporters, said the armed robber
had been on the wanted list of the command for a long time.
Ihechi, a 27-year-old who hailed
from Amaumara in the Ezinihitte Mbaise area of the state, has been terrorising
people of the state for so long.
Enwerem said Nwankwo had robbed a
bank customer of N8m at Access Bank at Ahiara Junction on August 8.
He had also robbed one Jovita
Enwerem of N650,000 at gunpoint at Ahiara Junction on June 21.
Enwerem said, “On September 28,
the state police command control room was alerted to a robbery attack along
Wetheral Road, Owerri.
“A customer of the Wetheral Road
branch of Zenith Bank had gone to the bank to withdraw N50 m. On their way,
along Wetheral Road, they were confronted by a daredevil armed robbery gang operating
with a grey colour Toyota Corolla with number plate ABJ 951AA that blocked the
convoy and immediately opened fire on the police escorts.”
The police spokesman stated that
the robbers engaged the cops in a gun duel but they were overpowered by the police.
He said three policemen, however,
sustained gunshot injuries and were already being treated in the hospital.
Enwerem said, “The criminals
escaped from the robbery scene but their vehicle was riddled with bullets. We,
however, contacted police in the neighbouring states to be on the lookout.
“Subsequently, the criminals were
intercepted in Umuahia, Abia State, where they engaged the operatives in a gun
duel.
“One of the gang members was
gunned down while the others escaped with bullet injuries and the ash coloured
Toyota Corolla car was also recovered.”
The police spokesperson further
revealed that investigation by the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad
operatives showed that the elder brother of the slain robber, one Chibuike
Nwankwo, 42, and Chukwudi Obinwanne, a native of Ugiri in Isiala Mbano LGA of
the state, were being held at SARS cell for bank robbery cases.
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A round of applause to the gallant operatives
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