Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have killed a suspected armed robber said to be operating from a refuse dump in the Abule Egba area of the state.
The suspect, identified simply as Blessing, was shot dead in the early hours of Thursday during a police operation in the Katangua section of the community.
According to police sources, the operation began at about 1:30 a.m. after intelligence indicated the presence of armed criminals at the site. Upon sighting the officers, Blessing reportedly opened fire, prompting the operatives to return fire.
“There was a fierce exchange of gunfire, during which the suspect sustained gunshot injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where a doctor on duty confirmed him dead,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the operation followed the confession of a 43-year-old suspected robber, Yakubu Adeyemi, who had been arrested earlier.
“Based on credible intelligence, our operatives stormed the Katangua refuse dump to apprehend other members of the gang and recover their weapons,” Hundeyin stated.
“On sighting the police, the suspect known as Blessing opened fire, and our officers responded decisively. He was later confirmed dead at Oke Odo General Hospital,” he said.
Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 rifle with five rounds of ammunition in its breech, a locally made single-barrel pistol, and four live cartridges.
Hundeyin added that the body had been deposited at the Mainland Hospital mortuary for autopsy, while efforts were underway to track down other fleeing gang members.
