The police in Enugu on Sunday said they killed a man on their list of suspected notorious armed robbers in a gun duel.
Ebere Amaraizu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in the State, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the man was identified as Uchenna Ngene, a.k.a. Youngboy.
“He was killed in a gun duel with operatives in the outskirts of Enugu metropolis.”
According to Amaraizu, items recovered from the man included an English-made cut to size double barrel riffle with some expended and live cartridges.
“The suspect met his Waterloo at about 6.30 a.m. today, Sunday”, he said.
He said that the suspect was tracked down in a manhunt by operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), to his hide out at Akwuke in Enugu South Local Government Area of the state.
“The notorious armed robbery kingpin identified as Youngboy by gang members played a role in the attack on police operatives sometime in 2016 at New Haven and Igbariam axis of the state.
“It resulted in the shooting and killing of an ASP and an Inspector of Police.
“However, their last episode in the state is at Obiagu axis where most of his gang members met the end of their road while he managed an escape.
“The daredevil armed robber alongside his gang-members has been a thorn in the flesh of members of the public before they met their waterloo in the hands of the police around Bisalla road.
“The suspect was tracked down to his hideout in an uncompleted building where he is taking refuge. On sighting police operatives, he engaged them in a gun duel”, he said.
“He was fatally injured in the exchange of fire and later confirmed dead by a doctor on duty at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, where he was rushed for medical attention,” he added.
He said the corpse was deposited at the hospital’s morgue.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Administration, Mr Imaikop Okpongkpong, said the operatives partnered with other relevant stakeholders to achieve the feat.
Okpongkpong assured the people that the command in partnership with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders would ensure a smooth and hitch free yuletide.
The police had intensified massive onslaught against criminals in recent weeks and had been yielding desired results. (NAN)