Police halts robbery, rounds up suspected seven-man gang

Sounds of shooting dominated the air around Iwofe area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, up to the busy Ada George Road in the western flank of the oil and gas city, as police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) fought with a gang of about seven boys, yesterday.

This is as the police also smashed a hideout of suspected robbers.

BusinessDay reporter, who ran into the shooting, found the SARS rounded up seven of the boys who were in a bus-car as the chase tore through parts of the state capital.

After about a short time of sporadic shooting that sent commuters running helter-skelter with students sprinting in many directions causing traffic jam, the police squad emerged with their booty huddled in a Siena car.

Eyewitnesses told BusinessDay that the shooting started at the Iwofe Waterside where a robbery operation was on until the police intervened. The gangsters were said to have tried to scare off the policemen as usual, but this particular squad kept the pressure.

The suspected robbers decided to call off the operation but instead of heading to the usual waterside and into the waters, they raced to the land area, an action seen as a mistake, probably due to the sustained pressure from the SARS.

A source said the gangsters raced to a point and ran into a street, which was a cul-de-sac. The police gave chase while still shooting until the boys found no further escape.

After rounding up the suspects who were seen with injuries, the SARS drove the two cars in crazy fashion shooting in the air as motorists veered off the dual carriageway. They were said to have driven to their station in Mile Three before eventually proceeding to the state headquarters on Moscow Road where a statement is awaited from the new police commissioner in the state.

Efforts to get immediate reactions from the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Muhammad, were not successful at the time of filing the report.

Robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes have seized Port Harcourt and other sections of the state in recent times, leading to pressure on the police and other security agencies in the state to save lives, businesses and property.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command says it smashed the hideout of a gang acting on a tip-off. A statement from the office of the PRO said: “At about 04:00, a team of police operatives on a tip off raided a suspected armed robbers’ hide out situated along Ada George, Port Harcourt. The operation led to the arrest of three males suspected armed robbers (names withheld). Items recovered from them include one two AK 47 rifles, one K2 rifle, five magazines, one 135 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition and assorted charms. State Criminal Investigation Department is investigating the case, please.”

Ignatius Chukwu