Men of the Abia State Police Command have smashed a car-snatching syndicate, which allegedly stole a Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle at gunpoint along Finbarrs Road in Umuahia, the state capital.
It was learnt that security operatives attached to the Umuahia Area Command, while on a patrol, got a distress call that a car had just been snatched from its owner and gave the hoodlums a chase.
It was gathered that the operatives caught up with the hoodlums at Agric Research Institute along Ikot-Epene road.
A police source disclosed that the hoodlums opened fire on the operatives, adding that at the end of the gun battle, three members of gang, who sustained bullet wounds, were arrested while three escaped.
Items recovered from the gang were one Toyota Highlander with registration number JJJ 872 CX, one Mercedes Benz car with registration number AG 467 NEM and one AK 47 rifle with two magazines containing 31 rounds of live ammunition.
Others are one locally-made pistol with four rounds of live ammunition, vehicle plate number with the inscription ABA 457 RA, three Tecno phones and a wallet containing the sum of N9,080 and two one dollar bills.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeleye Oyabade, confirmed the incident while briefing journalists in Umuahia.
Oyebade added that when the wounded hoodlums were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, two of them were certified dead, while one received treatment. He pointed out that efforts were on to arrest members of the gang.
He said, “The police are appealing to members of the public with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing members of the gang to report to nearest police station.”
Source: Today.ng
