The FCT Police Command said on Thursday that its operatives have arrested 25 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and Car snatchers in separate crackdown on the activities of criminal element terrorizing Abuja.
Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Sadiq Abubakar Bello who made the disclosure at a news briefing, also said the FCT Command as part of tough security measures to ensure a hitch-free eid-el-fitr, has deployed 40 patrol vehicles which were provided by the Inspector General of Police.
The CP said, “As you are all aware, the Eid el Fitr (Sallah) celebration is here, it is likely going to be tomorrow, Friday, 15th or Saturday 16th June, 2018. In view of this, I want to call on the good people of FCT to go out and celebrate the Sallah festivities in pomp and pageantry, however, they are to be peaceful and law abiding as they go about the celebration.
“On our own part, the FCT Police Command we assure members of the public of their safety and protection.
“Adequate measures have been put in place to ensure tight security in all Eid Praying Grounds, relaxation spots and all other public places.
“FCT residents can go about their activities without fear of molestation as adequate deployment of Policemen and other security agencies has been done to guarantee their safety.
“Members of the public are also advised to report all suspicious persons or movements to the nearest Police Formation/Station.
“Our distress call numbers still remain as follows: 08061581938, 07057337653, 08032003913 and 08028940883.
“While the FCT Police Command is making efforts to ensure a peaceful Sallah celebration, I want to warn criminal and disgruntled elements in whatever form or name not to do anything that will cause a breach of the peace because the Police and other security agencies have taken adequate measures to deal with such individuals or group in order to guarantee absolute peace and security.
“As I mentioned earlier, the Inspector-General of Police has boosted the operational capability of the Command with the provision of forty (40) patrol vehicles code-named Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
“As you can all see, these vehicles have been deployed strategically to all parts of the FCT, particularly in the City Centre.
“Their presence has contributed in no small measure to the reduction in crime and criminality in the Territory.
“We shall remain steadfast in the fight against crime and criminality until the crime level is brought down to the barest minimum.
On the crackdown and arrest of criminals, CP Bello said, “During the period under review, the Command has recorded modest success in its operation, some of which I am going to mention here.
“The dogged determination of the Command to unravel the sudden disappearance of 44yrs old Charity Chidebere Aiyedogbon since May, 2016 has yielded a positive result.
“On 1st June, 2018, Police Operatives attached to the Command Anti-Kidnapping Squad succeeded in arresting the principal suspect, one Paul Chukwujekwu Ezengo 27yrs at Benin in Edo State.
“Upon his arrest, the principal suspect who has been at large since the lady’s disappearance, confessed during interrogation that the mother of four was his girlfriend and that he conspired with one Emmanuel Adogah 28 yrs and murdered her on 9th May, 2018 at about 2330hrs at Kagini.
“According to Paul Chukwujekwu Ezengo, he gave her excess alcohol to consume before he moved her from Yaoundé Street to Kagini area where she was butchered and her mutilated body packaged in two sacks that were later dumped by the river bank at Ushafa, in Bwari Area Council.
“He further confessed that he killed her because he wanted to take possession of her Acura ZDS Jeep and other properties. The deceased’s car and some of her properties have been recovered from him.
“Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adogah who is a habitual criminal equally confessed to have participated in the commission of the heinous crime.
On 7th April, 2018 at about 1200hrs, at Kubwa, Police Operatives on patrol arrested one Shamsu Tukur, ‘m’ 24yrs old with a locally-made pistol.
“Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed that he uses the gun with members of his gang, now at large, to snatch motorcycles.
“The Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has intensified effort to arrest the fleeing members of his gang.
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“On 12th April, 2018 at about 0400hrs, as part of inter-agency collaboration, two armed robbery suspects Abdulrahaman Haruna, 25yrs old and Zakari Bawa, 22yrs old were arrested with one locally-made pistol and handed over to the Command by Military Operatives.
“After taking-over the two suspects, Operatives of the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) immediately swung into action and arrested the leader of the gang, one Friday Okpara, 25yrs old.
“A locally-made pistol was also recovered from him, in the course of investigation, Ojo Adebisi, 31yrs old and Kasimu Isa 20yrs old were identified by the principal suspects as the suppliers of the firearms to the gang for their robbery operations.
“The suspects revealed that they carry-out their armed robbery operations around Gwagwalada-Kwali axis. Investigation is on-going.
On 16th April, 2018 at about 8pm, acting on tip-off, Police Operatives arrested one Samuel Eze 22yrs old at Kabusa with an English pistol.
On 27th April, 2018 at about 2100hrs, Police Operatives acting on tip-off arrested one Kasimu Yakubu, 28yrs old at Ankpa, Kogi State and recovered an Abuja coloured taxi Golf car with Reg. No. ABJ 447 ES which was earlier reported snatched from its owner around Apo at gunpoint.
“The suspect revealed that his syndicate specializes in snatching cars from Abuja and selling them to ready buyers in Kogi State. Effort is being intensified to arrest other members of the gang and recover the arms (weapons) used for the robbery operation.
“On 28th April, 2018 at about 4.30pm, at Kuje Junction Gwagwalada, Police Operatives arrested one Samaila Muhammed 28yrs old and Musa Yusuf 29yrs old while trying to snatch a motorcycle from its owner at gunpoint.
“According to the suspects, the syndicate specializes in the robbery of motorcycles at gunpoint. Such robbed motorcycles are resold between ninety thousand naira (N90, 000) to one hundred and ten thousand naira (N110, 000).
“So far, four stolen motorcycles, one locally-made pistol, and one expended cartridge have been recovered from the suspects as exhibits.
On 9th May, 2018 at about 12noon, acting on tip-off, Police Operatives arrested Abdullahi Ali,25yrs old and Ifeanyi Ugwu, 32yrs old for stealing one Leister Generator and twelve (12) streetlight poles from a welder’s shop at Kagini. All the stolen items have been recovered.
On 17th May, 2018 at about 2000hrs, at Mpape, Police Operatives on patrol intercepted and recovered one locally-made pistol from one Godwin Obasi.
“During interrogation, he confessed that they were going for a robbery operation. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other members of the gang who escaped on sighting the Police patrol team.
On 23rd May, 2018 at about 3am, Police Operatives while responding to distress call arrested one Salisu Muhammed, 20yrs during a foiled armed robbery operation at Ibeto Ikwe Street, Utako.
“His partner escaped from the scene but all the stolen items were recovered, including the gun and dagger used for the operation.
“On 24th May, 2018 at about 7pm, at Guzape, Police Operatives while responding to distress call arrested one Dimka Yohanna, 28yrs old while trying to snatch a car from its owner at gunpoint.
“When the area was combed, three rounds of live ammunitions were recovered from the scene.
On 9th June, 2018, Police operatives attached to the Command Special Anti-Kidnaping Squad arrested five (5) members of a notorious armed robbery gang that robbed unsuspecting persons (passengers) in their taxi.
“The suspects, Ebuka Ejeanyido 28yrs old, Chidebe Okocha 36yrs old, Chukwuma Amichie 30yrs old, Augustin Agbo- 32yrs old and Chinedu Obi- 25yrs old were arrested during Police investigation of the disappearance of one Michael Ibebuogu Sunday who was reported missing by members of his family after he left his brother’s house at Apo for Suleja on 27th May, 2018 but never arrived his destination.
“The missing man’s phone was traced to one of the suspects who led Police Detectives to arrest the other suspects. The suspects confessed that one of them, Chidebe Okocha used hammer to hit Mr. Michael Ibebuogu Sunday on the head when he tried to take control of their operational car from the driver.
“The suspects said they abandoned his body under Apo Bridge. Efforts ongoing to recover the remains of the deceased. The operational car used by the gang, an army green Volkswagen Passat Wagon, one hammer and phone of the deceased have been recovered as exhibits.
“Finally, I want to say Barka Da Sallah/Eid Mubarak to the good people of the FCT. I wish them happy celebration.”
