One person has been reportedly shot dead by the police during an exchange of gun fire with some hoodlums at Swali Market in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

 

Eyewitnesses say a group of hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers, attacked the market at about 1pm on Monday, July 5, and started robbing the traders there.

 

Upon sighting the police officers who had arrived the scene, the robbers opened fire on them and the police officers responded swiftly, leading to a shootout that lasted for about 10 minutes.

 

As the gun battle lasted, one of the robbers popularly known as Agbor was hit by a bullet in the head and was rushed to the hospital by the police but was reported to have died later.

 

An eyewitness, who spoke on the basis of anonymity said: “This afternoon, we saw the policemen exchanging bullets with some boys. One of them is a notorious criminal, Agbor by name.

 

“I saw them when they exchanged bullets, I was there. So I flew to my shop and I saw when the policeman got him down. That is what I know, there was an English gun with the boy”.

 

This is one of several robbery incidents that has plagued the popular market for several years, with traders and customers being victims of the incessant attacks.

 

The area is also a hub of cult activities with several of such related killings taking place in the market and its environs.

 

To this end, the traders called on government to improve security in the area in order to preserve lives and properties.

 

The Spokesman of the State Police Command, Asinim Butswat could not be reached for comment before this report was filed but a security source confirmed the incident.

 

The source also disclosed that efforts are being made to beef up security in the market in order to prevent the reoccurence of such attacks.