The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Tunji Disu, has said operatives of the command smashed a one-chance robbery gang specialised in impersonating security operatives, just as three members of the gang have been arrested.
The police boss, who made thus known while parading the suspects, alongside others arrested for various crimes, Wednesday in Abuja, listed the suspects as Joseph Odeh, Moses Elachi, and Mathias Agboro.
He said members of the gang, who usually pose as officers of the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), typically pick up unsuspecting victims, take them to unknown locations, and demand ransom for their release.
According to Disu, “Luck ran out on them when, on October 12, 2024, following a complaint from Jeremiah David and Amaka Humina, both from Nasarawa State, at the Anti-One Chance office, they reported that, on the same date, at about noon, they were stopped by three men in a white Toyota Camry with registration number ABJ 221 BV, while on transit from Keffi to Abuja.
“The suspects forcefully ejected them from their vehicle, claiming to be officers from the DSS conducting an investigation. They then proceeded to drive them to an unknown destination and demanded that they call their family members to raise money for their release.
“The suspects transferred N400,000 from the victims and also took an iPhone 14 Pro Max, an iPhone 15 Pro, a Samsung S20, and a Samsung S8 Plus from them. Upon receiving the complaint, police operatives from the FCT command tracked and arrested the suspects.”
He further dislosed that 24 other suspects were arrested including one Joseph Abang, an alleged accomplice in a stolen vehicle case, even as 13 stolen items were recovered by operatives in October 2024.
The police boss noted that a mechanic at the popular Apo Mechanic Village in the FCT, identified as Abdulhamid Saidu, absconded with a customer’s ash-coloured Honda Accord, 2006 model belonging to Philemon Olaoluwa.
He said the victim had contacted Saidu, who had been recommended by friends to fix his car, however, Saidu, who is at large, absconded with the vehicle which had its particulars inside.
Disu said the vehicle was tracked to Jos, Plateau state, where it was found in the possession of Abang, an alleged accomplice of Saidu, who confessed to having sold over 16 stolen vehicles in the past four years.
