Armed robbers shot and killed an unidentified man during a robbery operation in Rumueme, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident, it was gathered, happened on Sunday evening after the assailants robbed a hairdressing salon and other nearby shops in the area.

The bandits were shooting carelessly to scare residents away while trying to escape.

An eyewitness in the area said a stray bullet caught the victim and killed him on the spot, while he was trying to escape from the scene of the incident.

The source added that the shooting caused chaos in the area as neighbours scampered for safety while others shut their doors to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

“The incident happened around 9pm on Sunday, after the armed robbers started robbing a hair dressing saloon and continued from shop to shop in the area at Hall Avenue, off Nsirim Street, close to OCC junction, Ikwerre road, Port Harcourt.

“We learnt that the gunmen robbed a hairdressing saloon and other stores in the area and during the robbery, the criminals started shooting ceaselessly and everyone started running for safety; residents shut their doors as well for safety.

“But the victim, while running for safety, got hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot. His identity could not be ascertained because he didn’t have any identity card on him and neighbours could not identify him too,” the source added.

When contacted, the Rivers State Police Command Spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident and added that the corpse of the victim had been evacuated.

Omoni disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mustapha Dandaura, had ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.