Courageous residents apprehend 3 armed robbers in Bayelsa

Members of the public in the Swali area of Yenagoa apprehended three of four armed robbery gang which robbed a couple of N3 million while riding on commercial tricycle.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that gunshot fired by the gang at the driver of the tricycle alerted people in the neighbourhood who went after the robbers and apprehended three of them.

However, the timely arrival of the police who were alerted of the crime saved the robbers from being lynched by the angry crowd.

Asinim Butswat, the spokesperson for the Bayelsa Police Command, who confirmed the incident, said on Sunday in Yenagoa that the incident occurred on Sunday.

Mr. Butswat commended the gallantry and courage of the crowd in rounding up the armed men but urged members of the public to refrain from taking laws into their hands.

”On the Saturday September 12, 2015, at about 1200hrs, four armed young men; drove a Volkswagen Car with REG No.AL 305 AGU, and blocked a Tricycle that was carrying Mr and Mrs Eric Oyibodokoye, along Oxbow Lake, Swali, Yenagoa.

“The suspects shot the tricyclist on his head, collected the sum of Three Million Naira from the occupants and zoomed off.

“Policemen were alerted and three members of the gang were arrested by members of the public, but were badly beaten before the arrival of the policemen.

“The tricyclist and the suspects were taken to Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, for medical attention.

“One of the suspects later died, and his corpse is deposited at the same hospital for autopsy.

“The fourth suspect was trailed and arrested at Swali Community in possession of a locally made pistol and N144,500, part of the stolen money,” Mr. Butswat said.

Butswat further advised embers of the public to continue to support the police in fighting crime adding that investigation on the incident was already underway.