The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected logistics supplier to kidnappers, rescued an abducted woman without payment of ransom, and apprehended several suspects linked to car theft, armed robbery and “one-chance” operations in separate operations across the territory.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja, where he highlighted recent operational successes recorded by the command.
Sanusi said officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested one Umaru Danda, a native of Zamfara State, at Gadabiu Village in Niger State on July 10, following investigations into the July 8 kidnapping incident at Yellow House, Mpape.
According to him, investigations identified the suspect as a major supplier of hard drugs, logistics and other illicit items to the kidnappers responsible for the attack.
He said the suspect led officers to three hideouts in Niger State where exhibits including an AK-47 rifle, tramadol tablets, substances suspected to be cocaine and cannabis sativa, cannabis pills, Embazol tablets, a digital scale, two ATM cards, two AirPods, bags and N250,000 cash were recovered.
The police commissioner said the suspect would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
Sanusi also announced the rescue of a kidnap victim abducted in Karshi on July 12, after suspected kidnappers reportedly fired gunshots to scare residents before fleeing with the victim.
He said police officers combed the Karshi axis and adjoining Waru hills linking the FCT and Nasarawa State, leading to the victim’s rescue at about 12:45 a.m. on July 16 without payment of ransom.
The victim, he said, was taken to hospital for treatment before reuniting with her family.
Items recovered during the rescue operation included a Makarov pistol, a dagger, military camouflage clothing and assorted charms.
In another operation, the commissioner of police said officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) arrested four suspected vehicle thieves identified as Ibrahim Ismail, Ahmad Umar, Riskwa Shehu and Umar Abubakar.
He said the suspects specialised in posing as passengers to book Bolt and Uber rides before robbing drivers of their vehicles and valuables.
Two stolen vehicles, an ash-coloured Toyota RAV4 with registration number YAB 240 DL and a grey Honda Civic with registration number ABC 72 JP, were recovered from the suspects.
Sanusi further disclosed that VCRU officers arrested three suspected armed robbers and one-chance operators after a hot chase along the Life Camp-Gwarinpa Underpass on July 14.
The suspects, identified as Orji Chibueze, Chibuike Odo and Chibuikem Stanley, were intercepted after attempting to evade police patrol.
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Recovered from them were a wig, screwdriver, scissors, knife, suspected cannabis, three mobile phones, a cap and a rope.
The police also foiled an armed robbery operation in Nyanya on July 19, after responding to a distress call that five armed men had broken into a shop and residence through a hole dug in the perimeter fence.
According to Sanusi, the suspects opened fire on the police, prompting an exchange of gunfire during which two of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries before escaping.
The victim, identified simply as Mr. Linus, was rescued and taken to hospital.
The police later arrested one Abdulraman Ismail after following a trail of blood to a residence in Area A, Nyanya, where bloodstained clothes, a toy gun, a digger, machetes, a military belt, assorted charms, jewellery, a counterfeit ₦1,000 note and identity cards were recovered.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Jamilu Yahaya, who allegedly led detectives to a chemist, Junaidu Usman, accused of treating one of the fleeing suspects identified as Danlami Abubakar, who remains at large.
The police commissioner said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Sanusi also revealed that the command recovered five vehicles stolen within the FCT from different parts of the country, adding that while some had been returned to their owners, others were yet to be claimed.
He attributed the successes to credible intelligence supplied by residents and urged members of the public to continue providing timely information to support the fight against crime in the FCT.
