…Victim shot during attack, hospitalised
…Robbers open fire on officers, flee with gun wounds
Akwa Ibom State Police Command thwarted an attempted armed robbery at Annex B Estate in Ikot Ator Village, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, killing one suspect in a shootout while two others escaped with gunshot wounds.
The incident occurred around 2:15 a.m. on Wednesday, 23 July, according to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, who confirmed that police officers responded swiftly after receiving a distress call from a resident in the area.
She explained that the three armed men had already forced their way into a residential lodge when operatives arrived. On seeing the police, the assailants opened fire, prompting a gun battle in which one of them was neutralised, while the other two fled despite sustaining injuries.
During the crossfire, one of the lodge’s occupants was struck by a bullet fired by the robbers. The unnamed victim was taken to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment.
Recovered from the scene were a locally made cut-to-size shotgun, one live cartridge, one expended cartridge, four Android phones, a bag containing N5,700 in cash, an industrial cutter, a wristwatch, clothing packed in an Echolac travel box and a Qlink motorcycle with registration number UML 906 QX believed to belong to the robbers.
DSP John added that a manhunt had been launched for the fleeing suspects and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
