The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested scores of suspected criminal elements, kidnappers, armed robbers, and vandals.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna Garba, in the fight against crime and criminality paraded the suspects during a media briefing on Thursday, at the Command Headquarters in Abuja.
He assured residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of life and property of FCT residents while calling on members of the public to continue to trust, support, and believe in the Nigeria Police Force.
CP Garba, while detailing the several arrests made so far, said, “On June 26, 2023, at about 2350hrs, Police operatives attached to Lugbe division acting on actionable intelligence arrested one Kennedy Esezobor ‘m’ 26yrs old, of Tudun wada village, Lugbe Abuja, a notorious criminal and cultist with one fabricated single barrel gun.
“The suspect confessed to being part of the criminal elements terrorising Lugbe and its environs. However, in the course investigation, two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles were recovered. Suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.
“In another development, on August 8, 2023, at about 1730hrs, the police operatives attached to Byazhin Division, working in close collaboration with the Vigilante arrested Five suspects namely Bernard Francis ‘m’, Felix Benjami ‘m’, Peter Benjamin, Helen Sylvester ‘f’ 40 years and Hamza Haruna ‘m’ 20 years for alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a minor in the area.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspects confessed their involvement in the kidnapping of a 5-year-old Umar Iliya ‘m’ on August 7, 2023, at about 2300hrs from Guita village, Kuchiko, Kubwa.
“The suspects led the police operatives to the residence of one Helen Sylvester ‘f’ a widow and a co-conspirator at Giko, a Village located about 13km away from Guita village where the victim was kept for three days. The young victim was subsequently rescued and has since been reunited with the parents. The suspects will soon be arraigned in court.
“In a similar vein, the operatives of the Anti-kidnapping unit of the Command acting on actionable intelligence stormed Kabin Mongoro Forest and arrested one Mohammed Hamza ‘m’ of Gaube Village Kuje Area Council while on his way to bandits camp bordering Nasarawa State.
“The suspect confessed to being an informant, a drug and food supplier to one Dogo surname unknown, who is a notorious Kidnapping Kingpin on the Command wanted list. He will soon be arraigned in Court.
“On August 21, 2023, at about 1900hrs, a patriotic Nigerian alerted the DPO Maitama that manholes were being removed on the street along Federal Housing, Maitama. The DPO responded swiftly but met the suspect later identified as Mustapha Kyari ‘m’ 38 years from Maiduguri, Borno State lying on the ground having been mobbed by irate youths.
“He was subsequently arrested and three manholes were recovered from him. He, however, confessed to the crime and that his accomplice by name Abba surname unknown escaped in the course of being mobbed. Effort is being made to arrest the fleeing suspect.
“The State Police Command in a swift operation between August 30 to 31, 2023, impounded six vehicles bearing both foreign and local plate numbers or with foreign number plates at the back and Nigeria number plate in front of the vehicle. The modus operandi of these drivers is that they use the vehicle to convey unsuspecting passengers and midway to their destination, they dispose of their handsets and other valuables. The moment they carry out this criminal act and to avoid being traced or linked to the crime, they quickly remove the Nigeria Plate number. The suspects will be charged to Court at the conclusion of the investigation.
“On September 1, 2023, at about 1500hrs, operatives attached to Durumi Police Division acting on actionable intelligence trailed and arrested one Nuhu Zaria ‘m’ who specialises in snatching GSM Phones from innocent commuters. After snatching phones, he removes the SIM cards and sells the phone then hands over the SIM cards to his girlfriend Bunmi Samuel.
“The girlfriend on her part will make withdrawals of all monies from the accounts that are linked to the SIM cards. The Police operatives have so far recovered 76 SIM cards, two Opay ATM cards, and a golden wristwatch from the suspects. The Suspects are to be arraigned in court at the conclusion of the investigation.
“On September 2, 2023, at about 2240hrs, the Police operatives from Gwagwalada Division while on a routine stop and search duty at Secretariat junction, Gwagwalada, intercepted a motorcycle with a passenger later identified as one Japheth Nuhu‘m’ of behind Brown Berry Estate Phase 3 Gwagwalada.
“The said Japheth jumped down and took to his heels on sighting the Police but was given a hot chase. He was subsequently arrested and a Berretta pistol with four rounds of 9mm live ammunition was recovered from him. It is suspected that the Suspect and his accomplice at large are behind the robbery activities in Gwagwalada and its environs.
“However, on July 19, 2023, at about 0040hrs, acting on actionable intelligence, the operatives of the Anti-violence crime section of the SCID arrested one Musa Matins ‘m’ suspected to be an armed robber at Durumi Area.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to having been involved in snatching and stealing cars in and around the FCT. So far he has led the Police to the recovery of two Toyota Camry vehicles with registration numbers MAG-149 AR (Borno state) and RBC-445 AS (Abuja). An effort is currently ongoing to trace the rightful owners of the recovered vehicles.
“Also, a Toyota Camry 2018 model with reg no: KRD411HT (Lagos State) stolen from Port Harcourt on September 3, 2023, was recovered on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, in Abuja.
“In a similar development, on July 23, 2023, at about 0200hrs, the operatives of anti-violence crime while on patrol arrested the duo of Gabriel Oliver ‘m’ and Emmanuel Ishaku ‘m’.
“In the course of the investigation, they confessed that they carried out attacks in a Redeemed Christian Church of God Bethel Centre, Galadimawa, Abuja and carted away several high definition electronic gadgets properties of the Church.
“The suspect led the Police operatives to Bauchi and Plateau states respectively where the items were recovered. Effort is being made to arrest the co-accomplice who is on the run.”
The FCT Police Command has assured its commitment to working with the residents of the FCT, in ensuring security of life and properties.
The CP, however, said that every resident are major stakeholder, and as such has a mission to fulfill which is to conquer crime and criminality in all its forms, while reiterating his commitment and willingness to always work with everybody to defeat crime in the Federal Capital Territory.
About The Author
