One of the suspected armed robbers terrorising communities in Ebonyi State was on Monday gunned down by soldiers from the Nigerian Army on the ever-busy Afikpo/Abaomege/Akpoha federal highway, just as three of the suspects were arrested by the soldiers.
BusinessDay also gathered that the suspects were part of a gang that had been terrorizing motorists and commuters at Abomeghe/ Akpoha axis of the highway. But, they met their waterloo after the troops of the Nigerian Army killed one and arrested some of them.
Joshua Ukandu, Ebonyi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, when contacted to confirm the incident, said information on the development was still sketchy as the Police Headquarters awaited a detailed report from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the Abomeghe Police Division.
“I have not been able to get anything conclusive, the DPO for Abomeghe confirmed getting information on that, but doesn’t have details, so I don’t have any details to give”, he responded.
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Ogboffia Ikechukwu, Chairman-elect of Onicha Local Government Area, said he received a call that armed robbers were operating on the highway and immediately contacted the Military, who stormed the scene.
He noted that he had to hurriedly stop his activity in Abakaliki, the State Capital to attend to the armed robbery incident, confirming that the robbers usually operated on the road before they were killed and arrested.
One of road users, Onyebuchi Chima, said Abaomege/Akpoha axis of the expressway had become a dead trap which made it easier for robbers in their robbery operations.
“These guys stopped me from finishing my beer in Abakaliki yesterday. I rushed down to Ehugbo to beat their evening service. However, from Abaomege to Timber shade Afikpo is a dead trap. The road is impassable”, she said.
