Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have successfully arrested eight suspected members of a "one-chance" robbery and kidnapping syndicate operating within Abuja, the nation's capital.
Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, officially confirmed these arrests to journalists at the command headquarters in Abuja over the weekend. The apprehending of the suspects stemmed from a distress report filed by a woman who had fallen victim to the gang after boarding a taxi from the AYA Roundabout.
According to Commissioner Sanusi, the victim, who is the wife of a police officer, boarded a vehicle allegedly operated by the "one-chance" syndicate. She was subsequently dispossessed of her mobile phone and other valuable personal belongings. The suspects reportedly went further, illegally transferring money from her bank account before abandoning her.
Following this incident, the Command swiftly directed its dedicated tracking unit to launch an investigation, employing advanced digital technology to trace the perpetrators. "As we deconstructed the entire criminal operation, we traced all electronic transactions and the mobile phone of the victim until we apprehended the eight suspects," Sanusi revealed.
The Commissioner identified the arrested individuals as Yunusa Sani, Ismail Mohammed, Abubakar Usman, Haruna Musa, Abdulrazaq Mohammed, Isah Abdulrahman, Isa Abdullahi, and Aliyu Shuaibu. Further investigative efforts led to the recovery of a significant cache of items, including 21 mobile phones and three laptops, among which was the victim's stolen phone.
Sanusi alleged that one of the suspects, Haruna Musa, possessed specialised skills in electronically altering the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of stolen devices. This practice is typically employed to evade detection when reselling the devices. The Commissioner added that individuals involved in receiving these stolen items have also been traced and identified.
All eight suspects and the recovered exhibits remain in police custody. Sanusi assured the public that once the investigation is concluded, the suspects will be formally charged in a court of law.
The Commissioner concluded by urging FCT residents to remain vigilant and security-conscious, to cooperate fully with the police and other law enforcement agencies, and to promptly report any suspicious persons, movements, or activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency contact lines. He underscored that security is a collective responsibility, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to its duties while appealing for public cooperation.