The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Barde, represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, disclosed this on Saturday during a parade of suspected criminals and exhibits in Owerri, the state capital, a statement said.

Okoye noted that the jewellery carted away from the gold store was allegedly worth about N500 million.

The items recovered from the suspects included two pump action guns, four locally made pistols, eight rounds of live cartridges, and one expanded cartridge.

According to the command, the police received a distress call around 1 pm on Saturday.

It said seven hoodlums armed with sophisticated weapons and a white Hilux which had a “covered plate number” were robbing a jewellery shop at Ikenegbu in Imo State.

The police commissioner was said to have mobilised the command’s tactical team and led the operatives to the scene.

“On sighting police operatives, the hoodlums opened fire but were overwhelmed by the dexterity showcased by the gallant operatives who professionally manoeuvred into vantage position and return fire which forced the hoodlums to succumb to their superior fire power,” the statement said.

“In the gun duel that ensued, one of the hoodlum was neutralized, two were arrested while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries.”