Police crackdown on Abuja robbers, kill one, arrest 7

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

A member of notorious seven-man gang involved in armed robbery and carjacking in the the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been killed while seven of his colleagues have been arrested by the police.

The notorious criminal gang was dismantled during a tactical operation led by the Scorpion Squad of the FCT Police Command,

While confirming the operation on Tuesday SP Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command said the operatives intercepted the gang on May 15 as they were planning an attack in Maitama.

Adeh said: “On sighting the officers, the gang members opened fire. In the ensuing gun battle, one of the suspects, Abdulmininu Bello aka Babanle, was neutralised.

“While seven others were arrested at the scene, namely: Ibrahim Muhammad, 22 years, ex-convict from Kebbi State; Abubakar Abdullahi, 22 years, from Plateau State; Sarajo Yusuf, 20 years, from Plateau State; Isiaka Adamu, ex-convict from Bauchi State; Abdullahi Isah, 18 years, escaped detainee from Bauchi State; Sanusi Ali, 51 years, resident of Kano State; and Abubakar Sani, from Plateau State.

“Their gang leader, Solomon Bawa aka Pastor Mogu, and one other suspect fled with gunshot wounds. The FCT Command calls on members of the public who may have come across anyone with suspicious injuries to report same to the Police for prompt investigations.

“All suspects are currently in Police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

“Exhibits recovered from the scene include: a 2004 Toyota Camry LE, one red boxer motorcycle, two locally made pistols with ten rounds of live 9mm ammunition, four AK47 rifles and magazines, eleven (11) rounds of live 7.62 ammunition and one locally made shotgun.

“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to belonging to a deadly armed network that specialises in snatching SUVs and luxury vehicles from unsuspecting victims, mostly at gunpoint during late-night roadside ambushes or through deception.”

Adeh said that investigations revealed they operated a WhatsApp group through which they planned and coordinated their attacks, often relying on inside information from domestic staff of targeted victims.

The statement added: “The suspects also admitted to the sale of a custom-colored Toyota Camry, popularly known as “Big-for-Nothing,” for N700,000, and a Lexus SUV for N1 million. They further confessed to the 2015 murder of an MTN staff in Kaduna State.

“The FCT Police Commissioner commends the bravery and professionalism of the operatives involved in the operation and reaffirms the Command’s commitment to ridding the FCT of all forms of violent crime.