Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have apprehended four suspected fully-armed robbers and collected heavy ammunition from them.

Spokesman of the Command, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, November 28, said the suspects were arrested during a stop and search by the Anti-Crime Patrol Teams.

“On the 26/11/21 at about 2315 hours, Anti-Crime patrol team attached to Ekpan Police Station while on visibility patrol/stop and search duty flagged down a motorcycle with three occupants by Benjones in Hausa Market along NPA Expressway, Warri,” the PPRO stated.

“The suspects alighted from the motorcycle and one of them surprisingly shot at the team but the team who were strategically positioned returned same. During the gun duel, one of the suspects named Yusuf Ibrahim ‘m’ age 27, was shot on his left foot which brought him down and he was arrested along with the rider of the motorcycle one Hashimu Garba ‘m’ 30 yrs of Mami Market, Effurun while the third suspect escaped. Exhibit recovered includes one cut-to-size locally-made single barrel gun, three live cartridges and two expended cartridges. Manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing,” he added.

Similarly, on November 19, at about 3:pm, Kwale Divisional Patrol team while on stop and search duty along Afieze street Kwale intercepted one Qlink motorcycle with reg no EHR 609 LU with two occupants namely Ohajiaka Sunday ‘m’ aged 24yrs of Ogwu Ikpere Community of Ogbaru LGA in Anambra State and one Rukevwe Jagu ‘m aged 24yrs of same address but a native of Oriah in Abraka.

“Upon searching the suspects one locally-made revolver pistol loaded with one live ammunition, forty-two (42) rounds of assorted live ammunition, several charms and the sum of 103,500 Naira were recovered from them. The investigation is ongoing,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, has said that stop and search is an important part of proactive policing.

According to the CP, it is far better to take the fight to the doorstep of criminals, arrest and prosecute them even before they carry out their nefarious activities.