A suspect who reportedly belonged to a gang of armed robbers in Okaka, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has died while in the custody of the police in the state. The police authorities in the state disclosed that the deceased, one Innocent Kokorifa, and his group exchanged gunfire with the cops who were on their trail, leading to his severe injuries.
Though he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, the police said that Kokorifa died while he was receiving treatment at the hospital. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, in a statement yesterday, said members of the gang opened fire on the security operatives deployed to trail the suspected criminals before the police retaliated. “On August 17, 2016, at about 1100hours, acting on a tip-off, policemen from the Anti-vice/ Anti-kidnapping Unit, went to an uncompleted building along Airforce Road, Okaka, Yenagoa, to arrest a three man notorious armed robbery gang. “On sighting the police and in a frantic bid to escape, the robbers fired at the police, the Police returned fire, one of the suspects sustained a bullet injury while the others escaped, abandoning one locally made Single Barrel pistol, one live cartridge, one expended cartridge and wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
“The wounded suspect was arrested and taken to the Federal Medical Centre, for treatment, but died few hours later. “The deceased suspect was later identified as one Innocent Kokorifa ‘m’. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.
