A suspected armed robber was shot dead by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command in the early hours of Thursday during a sting operation at a refuse dump in the Katangua area of Abule Egba, Lagos.
The suspect, identified simply as Blessing, was reportedly operating from the dump site and opened fire on police officers when they attempted to arrest him. He was hit during the exchange of gunfire and later confirmed dead at Oke Odo General Hospital.
The operation followed the confession of a 43-year-old suspect, Yakubu Adeyemi, who had earlier been arrested and provided intelligence on the hideout of his gang members.
Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stating that the operation was aimed at flushing out criminals hiding in the area and recovering weapons.
“On sighting the police, the suspect known as Blessing opened fire, and our officers responded decisively,” Hundeyin said.
Weapons recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle with five rounds of ammunition, a locally made single-barrel pistol, and four live cartridges.
The police have deposited the body at the Mainland Hospital mortuary for autopsy, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang who escaped.
The Lagos police have recently intensified operations against criminal gangs hiding in uncompleted buildings, dump sites, and markets, especially in densely populated areas like Abule Egba.
