 Police Command has apprehended four men alleged to be behind a string of armed robbery){kind=link}
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended four men alleged to be behind a string of armed robbery operations that left residents of Abuja and nearby communities living in fear.
According to police authorities, the suspects were rounded up during a series of coordinated raids carried out between September 3 and September 19 in Kagini, Abuja, and Madalla, Niger State.
Security operatives said the breakthrough followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance on the syndicate.
The suspects were identified as 28-year-old Ibrahim Shaibu, also known as Baba Godes, from Zaria, Kaduna; 40-year-old Yusuf Salihu from Kagini, Abuja; 25-year-old Awulu Nuhu, popularly called Zabi, from Keita in Katsina State; and 28-year-old Usman Yerima, alias Dangrugru, from Jimeta in Adamawa State.
Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the arrests in a statement released on Monday.
She explained that dangerous weapons and stolen property were recovered from the gang.
Items seized include two English-made pistols, 49 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a grey Toyota Corolla (2012 model), and 10 Android phones believed to have been snatched from victims.
Investigators revealed that the gang members confessed to participating in several violent crimes across the city.
Among the incidents linked to them is the deadly invasion of Volcano Peak Court Hotel in Gwarinpa, where guests were dispossessed of valuables and a popular disc jockey, Bashir Dauda, known in entertainment circles as DJ Bash, was shot and killed.
They also admitted to the armed attack on Umar Y. Gowa at Hillside Estate in Dawaki.
“The evidence we gathered, including CCTV footage, clearly ties the suspects to the robberies in Gwarinpa and Dawaki.
Their confessions have also helped us identify other members of the gang who are still on the run,” Adeh stated.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, commended the operatives, particularly the Scorpion Squad, for what he described as “dedication and resilience in the fight against crime.”
He assured residents that security agencies remain committed to keeping Abuja safe.
“We will not relent until every member of this network is brought to justice. We urge residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious movements around their neighbourhoods. Community cooperation is key to effective policing,” the commissioner said.
The police further disclosed that manhunts are underway to track down fleeing suspects linked to the gang, as investigations continue.