18 September 2008
Police in Lusaka have shot dead six suspected notorious criminals believed to have been behind a spate of robberies in the capital.
Stolen properties, ranging from motor vehicles to police uniforms, worth millions of Kwacha were recovered in the exercise in which police engaged in a gun battle with the suspects.
Commissioner of Police, Francis Kabonde, said in Lusaka yesterday that four of the suspects escaped the police dragnet and were on the run.
Mr Kabonde told journalists at Lusaka Central Police Station, where the recovered items were displayed, that the six bandits were shot dead in Chazanga Township between Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Three of the killed criminals were identified as Gift Nkhata, an ex-convict, Ben Phiri, an ex-convict notoriously known as "soldier" and believed to be an ex-soldier trained in one of the neighbouring countries and Moses Banda alias Moze.
"In regretting the loss of lives for these criminals, I wish to warn those contemplating similar robberies that they should refrain or police will meet them with force. For us in the police service, it is metal to metal," Mr Kabonde warned.
He said the bandits, who were believed to have staged at least nine dramatic robberies in the city, were first reported in Nakonde where they staged another robbery recently.
One of the robbers was arrested in Kafue and subsequently led to the arrest of three others in Chazanga Township.
On the night of the killing, the quartet led police officers to the place where the six had been hiding within the township, but the criminals who were hiding in a Toyota Carina, which was later recovered, ambushed the squad.
As police officers scampered for cover, the four suspects who were in the company of the officers tried to escape, compelling the officers to open fire and gun them down together with two of the ambushers.
Four of the bandits escaped and the police have launched a manhunt, while several firearms, household goods, four motor vehicles including two mini-buses were recovered.
Other goods recovered include sofas, electrical appliances, paramilitary police uniforms and motor vehicle number plates with some bearing Government and Police Service registration numbers.
The police station was crowded with residents jostling to view the recovered items.
Mr Kabonde said the service was appalled by the use of police uniforms and official registration numbers by the gunmen and would like to get down to those who supplied them with such materials.
He also disclosed that three suspects, including a police officer, had been arrested in connection with the recent robbery of K841 million at Investrust Bank in Lusaka and were in custody.
Mr Kabonde said K20 million cash, two motor vehicles, a house under construction, a small holding piece of land and building materials had been recovered.
He said police believed there was still more stolen money and property acquired from the K841 million lying around and investigations were active while the trio would appear in court soon.
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