Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command attached to Utako Division, have arrested a notorious armed robber, who escaped jail during a prison break.
According to the FCT Police Command, the suspect was arrowhead in the alleged killing of a Retired Brigadier General, Uwen Harold, in his residence on June 21, 2024, and made away with his service pistol and some ammunition.
His arrest and others were a sequel to an earlier achievement of the Command where some suspects were arrested for the murder of the late retired Brigadier Harold in his residence.
According to the Police, the suspects were picked up in a covert operation led by CSP Victor Godfrey.
The suspects and their gang leader, Hashiru Marazu Baku, were trailed and apprehended at the Chile Hotel in Kano State on July 17, 2024.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Abuja, Benneth Igweh, in a statement on Monday, July 22, 2024, while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Command, said the operation was successful during a follow-up operation by the same team of Police operatives on July 19, 2024.
According to the CP, the service pistol of the late Brigadier General was recovered with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition, in Mararaba Nasarawa State at about 02:00 AM.
CP Igweh explained that some other exhibits recovered from the residence of the suspect include; a wristwatch belonging to the wife of the late Brigadier General, other jewelry, and 79 bottles of 100ml of codeine.
The Commissioner of police further revealed that it is important to note that the same Hashiru Marazu Bako was once arrested in 2022, at Wuse Zone 6 for armed robbery, and was prosecuted and sentenced to Kuje Correctional Facility, from where he broke out during the May 22, 2022, Kuje jailbreak.
“On July 20, 2024, at about 10:00 PM, a team of Police operatives from Utako Division led by CSP Victor O. Godfrey trailed a Golf Vento vehicle with registration No. KWL 368 CP, around Arab Junction Utako – Darki Junction Jabi, suspected to be driven by a gang of armed robbers
“Upon sighting the police operatives, the suspects opened fire on the operatives which resulted in a gun duel. The suspects succumbed to the superior firepower and prowess of the Police and the following suspects were arrested; Ibrahim Yakubu, Ugwu Monday Joseph, Lawal Mustapha.
“The Suspects confessed to have been operating while one other escaped with bullet wounds. The following exhibits were recovered from them; two (2) English pistols, two (2) magazines, forty-nine (49) live ammunitions, three (3) torchlight and several charms.
“Also, on July 20, 2024, acting on credible intelligence, a combined team of Police operatives and Civilian Joint task Force led by the Commander Rapid Response Squad FCT Command raided black spots at Kabusa Panteka where the eight (male suspects were arrested with one trailer containing used car parts, armored cables, one canter pickup truck, two buses with one containing burnt armored cables, five saloon vehicles comprising of; one Camry pencil light, two Honda Accord and two Corolla cars, 14 inverter batteries and nine used cars
“Suspects could not give a satisfactory explanation to the exhibits seen in their possession. Investigations are still ongoing and suspects will be charge to court upon conclusion,” he said.
As that wasn’t enough, on July 17, 2024, at about 0600pm operatives from Zuba division, while following a complaint by one Chukwunazom Cyra, trailed and arrested one Brendan Ugwu at Dankogi area in Zuba.
The CP said a search was conducted on his car and one locally-made gun was recovered adding that the arrest prompted another search at his residence where another locally-made gun concealed in the ceiling of his house was recovered.
He said the suspect is in custody undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, further explained that on June 12, 2024, and on 15 June, 2024, at about 20:00hrs and 23:00hrs, respectively, a team of Police operatives led and coordinated by CSP Victor O. Godfrey trailed and arrested suspected armed robbery suspects, who have been on the Command’s watch list.
He said the suspects include; Saidi Mohammed, and Miracle Felix. “Suspects confessed to being a gang of one chance operatives who have been operating around Wuse II and Mpape axis for a while now. Suspects will be charged to court after investigations.
“I want to reiterate my commitment and willingness to always work with you (residents of FCT) to defeat crime in all its forms in the Federal Capital Territory,” Igweh said.
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