The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has apprehended 40 suspected members of a criminal syndicate terrorizing the Gishiri area of the FCT. The suspects, who have been causing hardship, panic, and apprehension amongst residents, were arrested in an intelligence raid conducted based on complaints from three independent sources.
According to SP Josephine Adeh, a spokesperson for the FCT police, the suspects were not randomly arrested, but rather apprehended based on intelligence gathered about their criminal activities. The complaints alleged that ex-convicts named Awalu, Balo, and Baba Ali were masterminding the illegal activities of the criminal syndicate.
These illegal activities include the consumption and peddling of illicit drugs, intimidation, assault, and dispossessing residents of their valuables, possession and usage of dangerous weapons, as well as attacking and obstructing law enforcement agencies from arresting suspects.
On the 9th of April 2023, operatives of the Mabushi Divisional Police headquarters acted on the intelligence and apprehended the suspects from carefully marked black spots. The suspects, however, put up a violent and repulsive resistance at the point of arrest and during the statement taking process.
While the proportionality of force applied in restoring order has raised concerns about unprofessional conduct, the FCT police command, and the leaders of the Gishiri community have commended the division and its leadership for promptly responding to public outcry and restoring order to the community. The suspects were screened, and those with prima facie cases will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigations.
The police have urged members of the public to disregard contrary and inciting accounts of the incident and report any suspicious activities in their neighborhood to the Police through emergency lines. These include 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk can be reached on 0902 222 2352.
The FCT police command has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and restoring peace to the Gishiri community. The successful operation that led to the arrest of the criminal syndicate is a testament to the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the police and their dedication to combating crime in the FCT