By Rita Michael
Bauchi
Three suspected armed robbers were shot dead following an alleged plan to attack members of the public in Bauchi State.
Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kamal Datti Abubakar, disclosed this on Tuesday at the command’s headquarters while displaying a cache of illegal firearms and ammunition recovered from the suspects and other criminals.
He said, “On 06/04/2018 combined team of IGP Monitoring Unit in conjunction with a renowned hunter Alhaji Ali Kwara acting on intelligence trailed the three suspected armed robbers to Maladunba forest in Misau LGA while planning to attack unsuspecting members of the public.
“On sighting the Police the suspects engaged them on fierce shootout which lasted for some minutes. As a result three suspected armed robbers sustained injuries and were taken to General Hospital, Misau where a medical doctor certified them dead”.
Kamal, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said that exhibits recovered from the suspects include three AK47 rifles, one locally fabricated double barrel gun, 10 live ammunition of 7.62 mm calibre, six cartridges of double barrel gun, three empty magazines of AK47 rifle, one silver colour Golf 3 wagon with registration number AH 471 GWA, one cutlass, two pairs of police uniform and N16,900 cash.
In a related development, following ultimatum issued by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim K Idris, to individuals and groups who are in possession and using prohibited and illegal firearms to surrender, Kamal Abubakar disclosed that 702 live ammunition had been submitted to the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State command, Sanusi Lemu.
He said that the successful recovery of prohibited and illegal firearms by the state command following the inauguration of the Police Joint Task Enforcement Team by the commissioner of police Bauchi State command in compliance with the IGP’s 21 days ultimatum to mop up, seize and recover illegal and prohibited firearms, has been extended to April 30, 2018.
Dati Abubakr said that the prohibited and illegal firearms voluntarily surrendered by the suspected criminals and persons to the command include 30 AK47 rifles, one AK49 rifle, 20 fabricated guns, five single barrel guns, two double barrel guns, four Pump Action guns, one k2 rifle, 20 Pistols, 70 cartridges.
He said that the command called on individuals and groups who are yet to surrender prohibited and illegal firearms in their possession to take advantage of the extension of ultimatum approved by the IGP and surrender such firearms to the command.
His words: “The command equally calls on the public to avail the police with useful information on persons in possession of firearms where such firearms are kept or any information that will assist the command in the fight against crime.”