The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Friday, December 29, 2023, paraded 23 criminal suspects, and 12 armed robbery suspects and recovered eight stolen vehicles, firearms, and one chance syndicates within the FCT.
This was disclosed by the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna G. Garba, during a press briefing with Journalists, that highlights the end-of-year successes recorded by the Command to ensure the protection of life and property of the residents of FCT.
In his briefing, from the 1st day of December 2023 till date, the Command recorded the following successes in its operations:
ARREST OF SUSPECTS/RECOVERY OF FIREARMS
On December 3, 2023, at about 2345hrs, police operatives from Dops State Headquarters on a pin-down and stop and search at Power House roundabout Asokoro arrested three suspects namely; Abubakar Aliyu 19 yrs, Bashir Musa 19yrs and Abba Jafaru 20 yrs all males of Uke Village, Nasarawa state. During the search, a Baretta pistol was recovered from them. During interrogation, suspects confessed to having burgled so many houses. Suspects will be charged to court after the investigation.
ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY (ONE CHANCE) SUSPECTS
On December 15, 2023, at about 1800hrs, acting on credible intelligence, that one chance syndicate was all out and planning on how to carry out their criminal activities. Police operatives from Galadima Division swooped on them and arrested two suspected one-chance operators namely Humphrey Peter and Patrick Onomuoder, while three others escaped. During interrogation, suspects freely confessed to being part of the criminal elements that terrorize the Life-Camp, Karmo, and Gwarimpa axis. Their operational vehicle, a Toyota Carina E without a registration number was recovered from them. Suspects are cooperating with the police to arrest other members of their gang on the run.
ARREST OF SUSPECT/RECOVERY OF FIREARM
On December 16, 2023, at about 2100hrs, police operatives from the Wuse division on a Pin-down/Stop and search operation along Herbert Macauley Way flagged down a Nissan Altima Saloon car with Reg. No. BWR 488 SV driven by one Najibu Abdullahi ‘M. The search was conducted in the vehicle, behold five rounds of 9mm live ammunition, a military jungle hat, Naval rank, and buttons were recovered from him. Hence he was promptly arrested. He is presently in custody undergoing interrogation.
ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY (ONE CHANCE) SUSPECTS
on December 24, 2023, at about 2145hrs, Police operatives from Utako Division acting on credible intelligence arrested seven notorious one chance syndicates, namely; Rita Geoffrey ‘F’, Musa Bashiru ‘M’, Ruth Friday ‘F’, Isa Paul Abdulateef ‘F, Murtala Olawale’ and Loveth Amos ‘F’. During interrogation, Rita voluntarily confessed to having been involved in a series of one-chance activities within the FCT in the last three years in which one of their victims, a lady was murdered by their gang. Their confession led to the arrest of one Mohammed Aliyu Lawal ‘M’, a POS operator that they usually patronize to withdraw money using the victim’s ATM cards. Suspects will be charged to court after investigations.
ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/ RECOVERY OF FIREARM AND VEHICLE
On December 24, 2023, at about 2215hrs, following a distress call received by DPO Wuse division that on the same date, some armed hoodlums numbering about five were operating at an apartment in Ndele Street Wuse Zone 3. The DPO mobilized Police personnel to the scene. The armed hoodlums on sighting the Police zoomed off with a Toyota Highlander jeep with Reg No. ABC 196 GN, which was forcefully taken away from the owner. The Police gave the armed hoodlums a hot chase forcing them to abandon the victim’s vehicle.
The Police successfully arrested three suspects namely; Ibrahim Adejoh, Linus Olom, and Chucks Oguejiofor, and recovered a locally made pistol with five rounds of 9mm live ammunition, an English pistol with breech number G-1015, and their operational vehicle, a Toyota Sienna gray in color with Reg. No. JJJ 519 DA. Suspects freely confessed to their involvement in the crime and are cooperating with the police to apprehend other gang members who are on the run.
ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS
On December 25, 2023, at about 2313hrs, one Abigail Christopher and two others reported to a team of Police Operatives from Gwarimpa Division on stop and search duty at 3rd Avenue, that while on their way home from an event, some hoodlums numbering about five waylaid and robbed them of their phones and other valuables. The police operatives swung into action and followed up with the victims at the scene. On sighting the Policemen, the hoodlums fired at police and the police responded leaving one of the gang members injured and his accomplice Umar Usman was apprehended. The injured hoodlum was rushed to the hospital where he died while receiving treatment. The suspect at hand has confessed to the crime and he is assisting the police to arrest the fleeing robbers.
RECOVERY OF FIREARM AND A VEHICLE
On December 26, 2023, at about 1945hrs, the police operatives from Galadima division received a distress call that some armed men numbering about four were struggling with a lady on the roadside and forcefully removed her from her car, a KIA Sorento with Reg No. NJC 93 FG into their car, a Toyota Camry with Reg No. 584 HK, and zoomed off to an unknown location. The Police Operatives gave them a hot chase which forced them to abandon the victim Mrs Anita Obiora, their vehicle and ran into the bush. During the search, a pump action gun with two cartridges, ATM cards, and other valuables believed to have been stolen from other victims were recovered from the vehicle. The victim’s vehicle, (KIA Sorento) and the operational vehicle of the hoodlums were all recovered to the station. Efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, ARMED ROBBERY/ RAPE
On December 25, 2023, at about 0200hrs, five armed hoodlums gained access to an apartment behind Dunamis church, Lugbe extension along airport road occupied by two ladies (Names withheld). The hoodlums gang-raped the two ladies and robbed them of GSM handsets and other valuables.
In the course of the investigation, one of the robbed phones was found with John Moses who was promptly arrested. His arrest led to the arrest of four other suspects namely; Maharazu Husseini, Kamal Isa, Ismaila Adamu, and Abdulrahaman Ahmad. The last three suspects were the actual culprits that committed the rape and robbery while the first two suspects are receivers of the stolen phone. They have all confessed to the crime and will be arraigned in court after investigation.
IMPOUNDED VEHICLES SUSPECTED TO BE USED BY ONE-CHANCE OPERATORS
Between the 1st of December and till date, the anti-one chance clearance squad of the Command while clamping down on one chance element impounded 17 vehicles without number plates and with tinted glasses. The operators of these vehicles are currently being interrogated to determine their culpability in the one-chance activities, those found culpable at the end of the investigation will be charged to court.
Describing the exploits of the month ending November 28, 2023, CP Garba said the Command successfully recorded the arrest of 11 one-chance suspects; seven suspected Kidnappers/Informants; recovered three stolen vehicles, five firearms, and 30 ammunition; neutralised one kidnapper and paraded 43 suspects.
The CP further said, that from the 1st of December till date, the Command also recorded the arrest of nine one-chance suspects, 12 armed robbery suspects, and two rape suspects; recovered five stolen vehicles, five firearms, 12 ammunitions, and paraded 23 suspects.
According to CP Garba, “Going by the analysis, you will agree with me that the crime rate in the Federal Capital Territory has dropped immensely.
“I wish to bring to the attention of the general public that, there are some mischief-makers out there posting items on social media that the FCT is not safe and that one-chance operators have taken over the FCT. This is not true. I can say without any fear of contradiction that FCT is the safest city in Nigeria.
“Many Nigerians are coming in droves to FCT to reside and do business due to prevailing peace and security in the city. It is unfortunate for someone to leverage the use of social media/ media platforms to misinform the entire populace that FCT is not safe.
“I wish to remind these people that Nigeria is the only country that we can call our own but not to run it down. What this manner of people are doing is to create fear and apprehension in the minds of the people and of course, the investors who may want to come to Nigeria to invest.
“Christmas was celebrated peacefully without any serious security breach. The Millennium Park, Magic Land (Amusement Park), and other recreational facilities, places of worship, and other key/vulnerable points were adequately protected. There was no single incident of any kind reported. The same strategies that were put in place during the Christmas period will be replicated during the New Year festival.
“I wish to assure all law-abiding residents of the FCT that, the Police are with you to see to your protection and attend to all your security concerns. I wish you a prosperous crime-free New Year.”
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