The Abbey Hostel in Ode Remo, where some students of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade reside, was thrown into pandemonium on Thursday morning following a gun battle between the operatives of the state police command and some suspected robbers.
It was gathered that a yet-to-be-identified armed robber was said to have been shot dead by the police during the gun duel.
It was also learnt that trouble started around 1:30 am on Thursday when four suspected robbers stormed the area and started raiding the hostel.
A source in the area who did not want to be named said students were dispossessed of their mobile phones and other electronic gadgets during the operation.
It was further learnt that while the robbery was ongoing, one of the residents was said to have alerted the police about the operations in the area.
While sighting the policemen approaching the area, the suspected robbers started shooting at the anti-crime patrol team dispatched to the hostel to rescue the students from their assailants.
According to report, one of the robbers was killed in the process.
Confirming the incident in a WhatsApp chat with Punch on Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said other suspects who fled the scene sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“One of the four suspects was neutralised in the gun duel. The three fled the robbery scene with bullet wounds. Our men recovered a bag containing five iPhones, one techno phone, a wristwatch, an iPod, and a power bank. Efforts are currently ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects,” Odutola said.
