From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There was mild drama at the Azikoro police station, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the weekend as a suspected armed robber turned himself in after he had accidentally killed his partner during an operation.
According to investigation, the two–man robbery gang operating around Azikoro village axis had gone to Bakery Road in the area where they had attempted to rob one Chibueze.
However, during the attack on Chibueze, one of the robbers, Napoleon, accidentally shot dead his partner, Smith. Chibueze, who escaped, was said to have alerted the police providing a description of the fleeing robber and the police moved to the area looking for Napoleon
Napoleon, realizing that the game was up and unable to handle the killing of Smith, went to the Azikoro police station to confess.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Asinim Butswat, Napoleon explained how the incident happened and took the police to where the gun was hidden.
He said investigation was still ongoing to get more information before the suspect would be charged to court. He said: “On December 22, about 8pm, a gang of two armed robbers attacked one Chibueze of Bakery Road, Azikoro village, Yenagoa. Luck ran against the gang as one of them mistakenly shot and killed his partner. The victim, Chibueze, escaped unhurt. The deceased armed robber was identified as Smith, male, 25 and his partner who shot him is Napoleon 23.
“Policemen swung into action and the suspect, in hiding, panicked and came to the Azikoro police station on December 23, on his own volition and confessed to the armed robbery and killing his gang member. He led police detectives to an uncompleted building on Bakery Road, Azikoro village where the gun was recovered.”