Two armed robbers were killed at Bangi in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State when they engaged operatives of state police command in a gun battle, police sources have revealed.
The incident was said to have occurred when men of the Police Force at Mariga Divisional Police Office in the state, acting on a tip off, arrested one of the armed robbers at the ever busy Mariga Market.
The suspect, Mamman Sodangi, was taken to the Station for a search where it was discovered that the bag he had with him contained three AK 47 rifles, fifty rounds of ammunition and three magazines.
On further interrogation by the operatives, the suspect confessed that he belongs to a gang of armed robbers that has been terrorising residents of the area, including the neighbouring states of Kebbi, Zamfara and Kaduna, particularly on market days.
Sodangi claimed that the gang leader resides at Farin Shinga, near Kontagora in Niger State.
With the confessing of the suspect, he led the operatives to the village to effect the arrest of the gang leader, Jabbi, but it was learnt that on their way back to Mariga, other members of the gang laid ambush for the police team, which led to a shootout between the police and the robbers.
The police were able to gun down two of the robbers, who were shot below the abdomen.
They died at General Hospital, Bangi, where they were admitted.
In another development, the police also arrested another suspect, Abubakar Mohammed, believed to be a member of Miyetti Allah Association from Karu, who was in possession of 20 live ammunition and a magazine.
The police image maker in the state, ASP Richard Adamu Oguche, confirmed the two incidents, adding that investigation was in top gear as suspects will soon be charged to court.
Oguche, who gave the serial numbers of the recovered riffles as AK 47-5366, AK 47-01742 and AK 47-395366, advised Divisional Police Commands within and outside the state that lost rifles with the quoted serial numbers to come to the state headquarters for identification.
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