Suspected armed robbers roaming Kakata City during the wee hours of Wednesday with one AK-47 raffle engaged a police patrol team in exchange of gunfire, leaving two of the alleged criminals wounded, while two others escaped, a an official police source affirmed Thursday.

Police spokesman George Bardue told New Democrat that the suspected armed robbers arrested are identified as Nyemah Gbollie (18) and Tarrious George (36) who are undergoing police investigation.

The two were among four men who exchanged gunfire with the Police Special Unit (PSU) while on a regular foot patrol at about 3:am on Thursday in Kakata, Margibi County.

Mr. Bardue said the suspected criminals opened fire at the patrolmen after they were spotted while robbing homes using an AK-47 rifle and other dangerous weapons to threaten their victims.

He said the patrolmen replied with gunfire in self-defense, leaving two criminal assailants wounded, and two others escaped.

Responding to why the PSU officers quickly used arms, Mr. Badue said: “They opened fire on the officers first. I mean real excessive gunfire and the officers had no alternative, but to respond with firepower”.

There have been series of armed robberies in Kakata and its environs where a special police task force has arrested scores of criminal suspects in recent weeks.