The Operatives of Ogun State Police Command on Wednesday successfully repelled an armed robbery gang that invaded a popular phone market in the Okelewo area of Abeokuta.
The armed robbery gang numbering about eight, stormed the market popularly known as “TARMARC” at about 5:30 p.m, and started shooting sporadically and carting away expensive phones.
A distress call was quickly made to the police at Ibara divisional headquarters. The DPO Ibara division, CSP Abayomi Adeniji, quickly mobilized his anti-robbery and surveillance teams in collaboration with men of Amotekun corps and moved to the scene.
On sighting the policemen, the robbers engaged them in gun battle, but due to the superior firepower of the policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels.
However, they were hotly chased and with the assistance of the market men, one of the robbers later identified as Adeniji Sakiru, 32 years old, was apprehended.
Unfortunately, a trader in the market identified as Dayo Bankole, was shot by the robbers during the incident. He gave up the ghost while receiving treatment at General Hospital Ijaye Abeokuta.
Items recovered from the arrested robber include one double barrel locally made gun and assorted Criminal charms.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the outgoing Commissioner of Police now AIG, Frank Mba, has directed that the suspect be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation.
Oyeyemi said, ‘’He equally ordered a massive manhunt for the remaining members of the gang with the view to bring them to justice. He therefore appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals, to inform the police if anybody with gunshot injury is seen in their area.”