Swazi Observer

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COPS SHOOT MOST WANTED SA THUG

By Sifiso Nhlabatsi | 2018-07-03

MEMBERS of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) yesterday shot and killed a most wanted suspect at Luve area during a raid in one of the homesteads where the suspect who was wanted for a string of robberies was hiding.

Residents of Luve witnessed what can only be described as a movie scene when about 30 police officers pounced at the homestead where the suspect was hiding.

It is said police received information that the suspect, who was wanted for a string of robberies around Luve and other areas in the country, with one of the robberies being the last Wednesday night’s one at Baceth Hardware was around.

It is said the suspect was linked to the robbery where armed men broke into the shop and made away with E30 000 after opening the safety deposit boxes using a grinder.

Information gathered from reliable sources is that police officers stormed the suspect’s hideout in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

The suspect, who is believed to be from South Africa, is said to have refused to get out of the house where he was hiding when police called out for him.

It is said instead, the suspect tried to flee and retaliate by opening fire directed at the police officers who had surrounded the place. Seeing that the suspect was armed and was not willing to surrender ,police are said to have opened fire and shot the suspect who died on the spot.

It is said police have since arrested some of the suspects who were involved in the robbery while some are still at large.

The killed South African is believed to be the mastermind behind the spate of armed robberies staged at Luve. It is alleged that he was colluding with known people from the same area as two of the arrested suspects are from the area.

One of the suspects is from Lutfotja while the other is from Mfelafutsi.

Some of the areas that are said to have been raided by the gang include Ngogola, Croydon, Mahhonwane, Nyakeni, Lubonjeni and other areas.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Khulani Mamba confirmed the accident.

He said police shot and killed a wanted suspect during a raid at Luve area. Mamba said the suspect was linked to some robberies, including the one that took place at Baceth Hardware.

When asked about the nationality of the suspect, Mamba stated that investigations were still ongoing and police were still trying to find his next of kin.

However, residents were quick to point out that the suspect who was killed was not from the area but from South Africa.

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