Police kill 4 armed robbers in Limbe

Police in Limbe, Blantyre on Saturday shot and killed four robbers who were allegedly planning to rob a Malawian businessperson of Asian origin.

Limbe Police Station spokesperson Chifundo Kansunje said police got a tip-off that some four armed robbers driving a Toyota Corolla registration BK 2443 were planning to attack H&H Wholesalers opposite Shire Highlands Hotel in Limbe.

“Upon receiving the information, officers from the Criminal Investigations Department [CID] planned an ambush on them. It was on Saturday around mid-day that the officers saw the vehicle being parked at a shop near H&H Wholesalers and just as the tip-off had stated, the four robbers came out of the car.

“When the CID officers went to arrest them, one of the suspects advanced to snatch a gun from one of the officers. As part of self-protection, the officer shot the robber and it was at this point that the other three started running away, prompting the officers to open fire,” she said.

Kansunje said the four were pronounced dead on arrival at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).

Police have since identified three of the four criminals as John Ntaja, Ephraim Mkandawire and Kapisi Tembo while one was yet to be identified.

Meanwhile, police have commended the public for the tip-offs they give to them, saying they are a gateway to ensuring a crime-free society.

“We commend the people that tipped us as without them we could not have possibly known of the planned robbery. At the moment, [we] also wish to inform the general public that we have tightened security in Limbe in readiness of the festive season,” said Kansunje.

The incident is coming after another incident in Mulanje last week where two armed robbers were killed during a shootout with police officers. n