At least one member of a six-man robbery gang operating along the Akure-Ilesha road was killed by the men of the 32 Artilery Brigade, Akure, Ondo State, on Tuesday at Igbara Oke in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.
The robbers were said to be operating along the expressway in the early hours of Tuesday when the soldiers manning the checkpoint in Igbara Oke, with the support of a vigilance group, visited the scene of the robbery.
It was gathered that the armed bandits had stopped some vehicles travelling in the night and dispossessed passengers of their valuables when the soldiers and the vigilance group members stormed the scene and foiled the operation.
The hoodlums immediately opened fire on the security operatives and the vigilance group members while the soldiers engaged them in a gun duel, killing one of them in the process, while others took to their heels.
Confirming the development, the Assistant Director of Public Relations of the Artilery Brigade, Captain Ojo Adelegan, appealed to the public to offer useful information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing members of the robbery gang.
He said, “The general public is hereby enjoined to please give useful information on suspected criminals and their hideouts to the security agency in Ondo State.
“The Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the state would continue to ensure the security of lives and properties of the people of this state.”
Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Femi Joseph, also confirmed the development and said the security agencies in the state were working to ensure criminals were flushed out of the state.
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