Benin — A seven- man robbery gang, which had terrorised residents of Benin City, Edo State, in the past one week, met their waterloo, yesterday, when they were intercepted by battle ready policemen, who laid siege to them.

Four of the robbers were arrested after a gun duel with the police though the leader of the gang, identified as Director and another of his lieutenants known as Sakpoke, escaped.

It was learnt that a member of the gang, who had been in police custody, provided the police with the information, which they used in bursting the robbers.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Olayinka Balogun, who paraded the suspects, said his men engaged them shortly after they robbed a guest house on Airport Road in Benin City, where they stole uniforms of two mobile policemen, who were said to have left their hotel room in search of food.

One of the robbers, allegedly confessed that they stormed the guest house after they learnt that a woman, who lodged in the guest house, was in possession of N4.6million.

Balogun said: "When they arrived the hotel, they forced the receptionist to the room where the mobile policemen were lodged. They forced themselves in but fortunately the mobile policemen were not in the room. So they collected their uniforms and magazine containing 30 rounds of 7.6 live ammunitions.

"After they left the hotel, they robbed a banker and snatched his Passat car. After that, they headed towards the area where my men were waiting and when they saw the police, they opened fire. We responded and that was how we rounded them up after exchange of gun fire."