The weapons seized from the bandits

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that there was an armed robbery attempt on an unidentified  bank in Port Harcourt on Monday that was foiled.

Police men belonging to the anti-robbery squad engaged the robbers in a fierce gun battle that sent residents scampering out of the area.

A press statement signed by the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer,Ahmad Muhammad said today:

“On April 18, at about 10:30 am, Following an information  that a Toyota Venza snatched at gun point three days ago was sighted along Psychiatric Road, Port Harcourt, teams of policemen quickly mobilized, trailed and engaged the vehicles occupants in a gun duel.

“One of the hoodlums was fatally wounded ,while one AK 47 rifle, six magazines, 270 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition and thirteen pieces of objects suspected to be dynamite.”

The vehicles recovered include:Lexus Jeep RX 300 ash colour No. Rivers KRK 957 BX, Toyota Highlander ash colour  No. Rivers AHD 159 SJ, Toyota Venza green colour No. Rivers NCH 262 ST,Toyota Lexus RX 300
grey colour No. Lagos LSR 957 DU and Toyota Corolla ash colour
No. Abuja ABC 433 VH.

“The hoodlums outing appeared to be an orchestrated but failed plan to carry out a bank robbery. Investigation is going with a view of arresting the fleeing hoodlums.”

In a related development, the Commissioner of Police said, “on April 17,2016 on a tip off form a patriotic citizen, teams of policemen raided criminals hideout at Umoda Aluu and arrested one Chima Nnorum.

Items recovered from the hide out include two AK 47 rifles, four magazines, 31 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition and a Lexus jeep 300 No. Abuja SARS ABU 295 DW.”