LThe Federal Capital Territory Police Command has apprehended 12 notorious one-chance robbers, a group that has long threatened the safety of commuters by violently robbing them of their valuables in Abuja.
These arrests follow numerous complaints from citizens about the terrifying one-chance gang operations targeting innocent passengers.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, hailed the arrests as a vital step forward in restoring security to the city.
The suspects, identified as Joseph John Odeh, Moses Elachi, Mathias Agbogo, Ali Bukar Gana, Muhammed Inusa, Muhammed Adamu, Abbas Rabiu, Suleiman Lawal, Aminu Auwal, Ibrahim Shehu, Abbah Mohammed, and Abdulkarim Mohammed, have reportedly been linked to various criminal acts that spanned across multiple locations.
According to CP Disu, the initial three suspects arrested belonged to a particularly dangerous gang that disguised themselves as law enforcement officials, specifically impersonating Police and Department of State Services officers.
They targeted unsuspecting commuters by picking them up in vehicles under the guise of offering transportation, only to divert them to secluded areas where they would then coerce victims to call family members for ransom.
On October 12, 2024, a distressing incident involving Jeremiah David and Amaka Humina, both residents of Nasarawa State, exemplified the gang’s tactics.
“The victims reported being forcibly taken in a white Toyota Camry (ABJ 221 BV) while they were traveling from Keffi to Abuja,” CP Disu recounted. “The suspects, posing as DSS officers, drove them to an undisclosed location, demanding they call family members to raise money for their release.”
The gang extracted ₦400,000 from their victims and also stole high-end mobile phones before the police, using advanced tracking techniques, tracked down and arrested the culprits.
Another incident on October 30, 2024, saw a one-chance gang’s operations come to an abrupt halt when their Golf III vehicle was set on fire after being intercepted at NYSC Junction, Kubwa.
Although some gang members managed to escape into the surrounding bushes, police later apprehended Ali Bukar Gana, Muhammed Inusa, and Muhammed Adamu at their hiding place in the Malaysia IDP Camp, located within Apo Mechanic Village.
Following their capture on October 31, they confessed to their involvement in a notorious one-chance ring that had been operating along the AYA-Zuba expressway for over a year, instilling fear and causing harm to commuters.
The police retrieved various items used by the gang to subdue and threaten victims, including vehicles, knives, ropes, a Beretta pistol, and live ammunition.
The suspects remain in custody as further investigations continue, and they are expected to face court proceedings shortly.
In a separate development on October 10, 2024, police operatives utilized digital tracking technology to recover a Honda Accord that had been stolen by a mechanic, Abdulhamid Saidu, under the pretense of repair work.
The car was traced to Rayfield, Jos, where the authorities apprehended notorious car thief Joseph Abang. During questioning, Abang admitted to being involved in the rebranding and resale of over 16 stolen vehicles in a four-year period.
Another police operation on October 21, 2024, responded to a distress call about an armed robbery in progress on Femi Gbajabiamila Crescent in the Jahi area.
During a confrontation, police engaged in a gunfight, neutralizing two suspects while others fled, abandoning four vehicles.
Subsequent investigations led to further arrests of gang members who confessed to being part of a larger, ten-man armed robbery syndicate that frequently targeted neighborhoods in Mabushi, Jahi, and Gishiri. Police are actively pursuing the gang leader, identified as Dan Auwalu, along with the remaining members of the group.
CP Disu praised the courageous efforts of the police operatives, reaffirming the FCT Command’s dedication to safeguarding residents and curtailing criminal activities throughout the territory.
