12th December, 2024
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested eight suspects and recovered seven vehicles in connection with “one chance” robbery operations within the territory.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) for the FCT, Mr. Olatunji Disu, disclosed this during a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
He noted that the arrests and recoveries were part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat the notorious crime.
Among the items recovered from the suspects within the week were three Point of Sale (POS) machines, five laptops, three phones, $203 in cash, 109 phone memory cards, a blindfold, and a plier.
Mr. Disu attributed the successes to robust intelligence gathering, surveillance, and targeted interventions. He also highlighted a concerning trend observed during the operations: most vehicles used by the syndicates were tinted, enabling the criminals to conceal their activities and evade detection.
“The command has dismantled key syndicates, apprehended suspects, and recovered crucial exhibits,” Disu said.
He revealed that three suspects linked to a syndicate operating out of Mararaba in Nasarawa State were apprehended by operatives. The suspects reportedly confessed to their roles in the criminal network, with one posing as a fake passenger to lure victims, another scouting for potential targets at bus stops and marketplaces, and a third targeting commuters during rush hours.
The Police also recovered a Golf Three car with registration number TRN 647 AA and a Peugeot 406 with registration number ABJ 145 LQ from the suspects.
“This arrest represents a significant stride in our fight against organized crime,” Disu stated, adding that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing leader of the gang.
