By Amaechi Okwara
Asaba
Delta state police command yesterday foiled an attempt by robbers to use a car belonging to a traditional ruler to rob a police officer.
The Mercedes Benz car with registration number EQ 442 APP belonged to His Royal Highness, Igwe Ifeanyichukwu of Ase Kingdom in Ndokwa West local government area.
The monarch’s aide, one Ogero Imono, and his partner, reportedly used the vehicle in an attempt to rob one Sergeant Ugbo on Sunday at 17 Tolobe Street, Oleh, in Isoko South local government area.
It was gathered that the robbers had invaded Ugbo’s house and knocked at the door “and when he (Ugbo) looked through the window, he saw one of the persons, suspected to be armed robber, with a stainless gun.”
It was further gathered on sporting the robbers Ugbo called the local vigilance group on phone and the vigilante mobilised and responded swiftly with a back-up army patrol team.
However, when the hoodlums sighted the security team approaching they escaped and abandoned the said vehicle which was recovered to the police station.
Confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Celestina Kalu, said preliminary investigation revealed that the said Mercedes Benz car belonged to HRH, Igwe Ifeanyichukwu.
She said: “The monarch when contacted disclosed that the said vehicle developed fault on his way to Ase from Asaba. He then left the vehicle with an aide, one Ogero Imono to get a mechanic to fix the vehicle while he sent for his spare car in which he continued his journey.
“They said Ogero Imono, instead of returning the car to HRH after the repair, decided to use it along with his cohorts for the botched robbery operation. “Detectives traced the said Ogero Imono to his house at Iyede Street, Oleh, and discovered that he had left the town.”
The police spokesperson informed that efforts had been intensified to track down the suspects.