The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested 40 suspects in separate operations across Abuja over alleged traffic robbery, armed robbery, kidnapping and other traffic-related offences.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Abuja.
Sanusi said the arrests followed a comprehensive assessment of crime trends across the territory, particularly incidents involving stolen vehicles, armed robbery and other forms of criminality.
He said, “To effectively tackle crime and criminality, especially incidents of stolen vehicles and armed robbery within the Federal Capital Territory, we went back to our drawing board where we undertook a detailed review of the crime patterns within the FCT.”
According to the commissioner, 10 suspects were arrested over alleged traffic robbery, while another 20 were apprehended for various traffic violations.
Sanusi said the traffic robbery arrests followed reports of individuals allegedly posing as street hawkers around busy roads and traffic points before robbing motorists and other road users.
“So far, we have arrested ten traffic robbery suspects,” he said, adding that investigations into their alleged activities were ongoing.
The command also arrested 20 people for traffic violations, with Sanusi identifying driving against traffic, popularly known as one-way, as one of the major offences.
“So far, we have arrested twenty (20) suspects for various traffic offences, and they were all immediately charged to court,” he said.
On armed robbery investigations, Sanusi said two suspects had been arrested in connection with robbery cases reported in Nyanya and Kubwa.
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He identified one of them as 32-year-old Ismail Tasiu, who police allegedly tracked to a hotel in Jabi, where he was arrested alongside 35-year-old Adamu Aliyu.
Aliyu was allegedly identified as a receiver of stolen property.
Police recovered five motorcycles, three knives, a number plate and a face cap bearing the inscription “Kaduna State Vigilante Service” from the suspects.
“All exhibits and suspects are in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” Sanusi said.
The commissioner also disclosed that two suspects were arrested over the alleged abduction of three residents of Nyanya.
According to him, the victims were taken to New-Nyanya in Nasarawa State, where they were held before police operatives arrested Godwin Afekhide and Aaron Ogbu in connection with the incident.
“All three victims were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families,” he said.
Sanusi further revealed that six suspects were arrested on July 28 by operatives attached to the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit Team 1.
He said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly operated as a gang specialising in breaking into homes at night, stealing valuables and attacking residents with knives.
The commissioner assured residents that the police would continue targeting criminal groups operating within the FCT.
“I want to use this opportunity to assure all residents of the Federal Capital Territory that we will continue to take the fight to criminal elements wherever they operate,” he said.
“We will identify their hideouts, disrupt their networks, recover their instruments of crime, and bring those responsible to justice,” he added.
Sanusi urged residents to assist security agencies by providing credible information about suspicious individuals and activities within their communities.