Police crack down on fake checkpoints, arrest 50 in nationwide sweep

By Monday Ijeh

The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested 50 suspects over fake checkpoints, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, banditry, robbery and other criminal offences in three months nationwide.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, said this during a news conference on Monday in Abuja.

Placid said 17 rifles of various models, 111 live ammunition of various calibers, two empty magazines, 17 live cartridges and three vehicles were recovered between January and March.

According to him, three mobile phones, seven magazines, five walkie-talkies among other exhibits were also recovered within the period under review.

He said the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department- Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) following several coordinated operations.

Placid said operatives of the FID-IRT, on March 3, acting on credible intelligence, arrested four suspects over armed robbery in Benue.

The police spokesman said the suspects specialise in mounting fake police checkpoints to rob unsuspecting members of the public.

He said a locally fabricated rifle, a revolver pistol, live cartridges, and a complete Police Mobile Force uniform used as a decoy were recovered from the suspects.

Placid said the suspects were currently in custody, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang to recover additional weapons.

He said operatives of the FID-IRT had on March 13, arrested four suspects over abduction, extortion and robbery along Deidei/Kubwa Expressway in Abuja.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were involved in multiple cases of abduction, ‘‘one chance’’ extortion, robbery, and attempted murder within and around the FCT.

“The exhibits recovered were linked to their criminal activities, including property belonging to one of their victims.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate to recover additional operational assets,” he said.

Placid said three suspected kingpins, responsible for the murder of three policemen in Taraba, had also been arrested.

The police spokesman said the suspects were arrested on March 29 by operatives of the FID-IRT following credible human and technical intelligence.

He said preliminary investigation had revealed that the suspects were the brain behind the killing of three policemen attached to Donga Divisional Police Headquarters on March 18.

Placid said the suspects had also been linked to other violent attacks and crises in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba.

He said investigations to apprehend other fleeing suspects and recovery of their operational weapons were still ongoing.

(NAN)