The two suspected members of the dreaded “Momotimi” gang were said to have died from gunshot
The Nigerian police have reportedly killed two robbery and murder suspects during a gun battle at Opete community in Owvain Aladja, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.
The two suspected members of the dreaded “Momotimi” gang were said to have died from gunshot wounds sustained in a shootout with police personnel in a beer parlour.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, in a statement on Sunday, said the deceased gang members, Gift Famous, aka Bobone, aged 29 and Edafe Friday Onaibe, aka Laslas 1500, aged 25 of Enerhen had been on the wanted list of the Delta State Police Command for their criminal activities in Warri and other parts of the state.
Items recovered from the deceased suspects include one locally-made barrel pistol, one cut-to-size locally-made double-barrelled gun, six live cartridges a and round of 7.62 AK-47 live ammunition.
He said, “The DPO Ovwian Aladja, CSP Aliyu Shaba, acting on a tip-off that two members of the dreaded ‘Momotimi’ Gang were sighted in a beer parlour at Opete community in Owvain Aladja, Udu LGA.
"The DPO Ovwian Aladja Division mobilised and led a team of Police operatives to the scene where they found the duo of Gift Famous A.K.A “BOBONE” ‘m’ aged 29yrs, and Edafe Friday Onaibe A.K.A ‘LASLAS 1500’ ‘m’ aged 25yrs of Enerhen, both of whom had long been on the Command’s wanted list for their criminal exploit in Warri and other parts of the state.
"The duo on sighting the Police fired gunshots at them, in a bid to escape and the Police operatives returned fire while giving them a hot chase, and in the ensuing gun duel, both suspects were fatally wounded.
“However, on their way to the hospital the suspects confessed to several robberies, assassinations including the murder of one Douglas Abugu in Ekpan on 18/8/2022, because he took over the position of quarter chairman from him when he (Gift Famous) was in prison, and he could not get back his position when he returned, hence his decision to kill Douglas. He also confessed to the murder of one ‘small doctor’ in the same Ekpan axis on 22/8/2022.
“He further revealed that he was responsible for the attempted kidnap/murder of one man (name withheld) in Ekpan, where they shot him in a bid to kidnap him.”
“Both suspects who were fatally wounded in the gun duel died before getting to the hospital. Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing,” the statement added.