[allAfrica.com] [Christian_Science_Monitor] Shot Dead! Vanguard (Lagos) NEWS April 11, 2004 Posted to the web April 12, 2004 By Wale Akinola 33 robbers, 5 Policemen also 4, 231 ammunition found FROM the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, came the confirmation, weekend, that the large scale ammunition in wrong hands was partly responsible for the upsurge in violent crimes and the high profile killings witnessed of late in the country. But Balogun said the police were doing their best to contain the onslaught by the men of the underworld as, according to him, no fever than 33 armed robbery suspects had been caught up by nemesis, having been short dead by the police in the first quarter of the year with 153 in the net. Five policemen also lost their lives in the hands of the dare-devil robbers. During the period under review, the nation witnessed armed attacks on high profile citizens including the national vice-chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in charge of the South-South zone, Chief Aminosari Dikibo, who was shot dead by some gunmen in Delta State while another attack on Governor George Akume of Benue State claimed the life of a member of the PDP board of trustees, Mr. Agom. The inspector-general, who gave the figures in Lagos at the weekend, stated that of the 33 robbery suspects shot dead by the police, 16 lost their lives last month in different parts of the country. The killings in March, Balogun disclosed, took place during police battle with men of the underworld in five states namely: Nasarawa, Imo, Anambra, Rivers and Bayelsa. Other states where major successes were recorded in the police responsibility of ensuring security without killings in the face-off between the law enforcement agents and criminal elements, according to him, include Akwa Ibom, Delta, Sokoto, Ogun, Plateau, Oyo, Kogi, Niger and Lagos. He attributed the achievements to the proactive measures taken by the police to counter undesirable people in the society, saying the successes was due to the eight-point formula adopted by the authorities to tackle security problems and the special task force that was inaugurated March 14 on the recovery of illegal firearms. The inspector-general's breakdown of the robbery suspects shot dead by the police in March showed that Nasarawa State topped the list with eight of the men of the underworld killed in that state during the month. Balogun's words: "On March 17, 2004, a team of Operation Fire for Fire engaged a gang in a shootout along Keffi-Akwanga Road (Nasarawa State), shooting dead eight suspected armed robbers and recovering four locally-made pistols, 10 rounds of live ammunition, six rounds of expended ammunition, one iron cutter and two cutlasses." Anambra was second with five suspects shot dead with Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa recording one killing each. "On March 3, 2004, a team of Operation Fire For Fire raced to the scene of robbery at Obosi in Anambra State and engaged a gang in a gun duel which led to the killing of armed robbery suspects and recovery of one SMG rifle, two English made double barrel guns, two locally made pistols, 25 rounds of live cartridge, three rounds of 9mm live cartridge and a human skull," Balogun said. The police boss continued: "In Imo State, a team of policemen on stop and search entry along Oguta Road on March 13, 2004 intercepted a gang and engaged them in a fierce battle. In the process, one member was arrested, one shot dead while others escaped with bullet wounds. The team recovered two locally made pistols and eight rounds of live ammunition." In the police encounter with suspected armed robbers in Rivers State which took place on March 18 in Bonny Island, according to him, "the gang leader identified as Ige Banigo was shot dead while others escaped with bullet wounds." Balogun explained that one Barrete pistol and six rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the gang. The police operation in Bayelsa State which took place along Nembe Creeks when a group of pirates were intercepted claimed the life of a member of the gang while two others were apprehended. The inspector-general claimed that the task force on illegal firearms recovery arrested 13 persons in Kogi, Lagos, Delta, Niger and Plateau states and recovered 15 AK-47 rifles, 10 locally made pistols, 14 single barrel guns, 2500 live cartridges, 140 cutlasses, 55 swords, 50 knives, 17 native bullet proof vests and percels of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp. Balogun did not elaborate on the five policemen who lost their lives in the hands of suspected bandits.   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2004 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================