Suspected leader of a notorious armed robbery/kidnap gang, which has allegedly been terrorising Abia State and its neighbours, one Samuel Kalu, alias Obere, has been reportedly killed in a cross-fire between the gang and the police.
The police said that the gang was suspected of allegedly killing one Chuks Mbaeri Okebata, a former US-based army officer, two police men and eight members of the Abia State Vigilante Service (Bakkasi) at Aba at different times and dates.
This was contained in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna.
According to the statement, Kalu was arrested by a team of detectives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Section of the Criminal Investigation Department (D7), Umuahia, on a tip-off in Okai Item in Bende Local Government Area.
The statement added that the suspect was killed in a gun battle between the police and members of the gang, while he was leading the police to their hide-out along Ukpakiri-Ikot Ekpene road.
Disclosing that the police patrol van was riddled with bullets during the encounter, the PPRO added that the Command Tactical Response Squad had been drafted to assist in tracking down the remaining members of the gang.
“ Members of the public are enjoined to volunteer information to the police or any other security agency on anyone found with bullet wounds, please,’ the statement concluded.
