The Nigerian Army has apprehended eight suspects linked to the murder of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sunday Okoebor in Asaba, Delta State.
DSP Okoebor was fatally shot during a robbery attempt in a residential neighborhood on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Colonel Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff of the 63 Brigade Headquarters in Asaba, disclosed that two of the suspects sustained injuries during the operation, while two others managed to escape with weapons.
Upon receiving information about the police officer’s killing in the Koka area of the state capital, army operatives, alongside the state police command’s ‘Operation Hawk,’ swiftly responded. Gambari stated that an exchange of gunfire occurred between the security forces and the criminals.
“At about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, men of Operation Still Water II responded to a distress call about the robbery. We got there and met an exchange of gunfire. The robbers had gunned down a police officer, and our men engaged them in another gun duel,” he explained.
“In the process, two of the suspects were shot and captured along with eight others, while two others managed to escape with bullet wounds. After the incident, troops again mobilized to the criminal hotspots in the area where 125 others were arrested, and out of which eight of them were identified by residents as those who have been robbing them of their properties and terrorizing their areas,” Gambari added.
The suspects and items recovered, including locally-made pistols with live cartridges, laptops, jewelry, phones, and other electronic gadgets stolen from residents, will be handed over to the police. The operation, known as ‘Operation Still Water,’ aims to ensure a safe environment, especially during the ember months, and to maintain peace in the region.
