Police Nab ATM Swap Syndicate, Robbery Suspects, Drug Dealers in Abuja
This press briefing is geared to update you on achievements made in line with deployments for Operation Puff Adder which the command has keyed into as a strategy for crime prevention:
a. ARREST OF AN ATM SWAP SYNDICATE
On the 30th March, 2019 a report was received from Alhaji. Usman Ahmadu of gwarimpa, that on 29th March, 2019 he went to an ATM machine to make some withdrawals and the card got stocked in the machine but on the 30th March, 2019 at about 0130hrs he got an alert debiting him the sum of nine hundred and fifty thousand (N950,000) naira from his account. He then got the customer care number, which to enabled him to block the card. Upon receipt of the complaint our detectives with the cooperation of the bank officials got the identity of the suspects. The suspects were arrested on the 2nd May, 2019, are;
1. Ernest Mensah ‘m’ age 23yrs from Anambra state
2. Obiuwevbi Ogheneovo ‘m’ 23yrs from Delta state
3. Urunmatsoma Hendrix ‘m’ 21yrs from Delta state
The suspects who admitted to the crime, stated that on that faithful day the victim went to withdraw at the ATM and was find it difficulty, He then asked them for assistance in the process they swapped his card with their own fake card.
On how they got his pin number they said the gang leader stood directly behind the victim and since the card is fake, he had to enter the pin severally. They then moved to the filling station on the Kubwa Express way where they have an accomplice by name Henry who used POS to transfer the money into their account and remitted cash equivalent to the company. When asked how many times they have operated they said this is there 4th operation around Gwarimpa area and on weekends. The following fuel attendants attached to a filling station in Kubwa suspected to be conniving with suspects have also been arrested:
1. Henry O. Elvis ‘m’ aged 34 years
2. Taiwo Aderinto ‘f’ aged 36 years
3. Solomon Ojuola ‘m’ aged 35 years
4. Mary Igoh ‘f’ 26 years and the manger by name
5. Elizabeth Okeagu ‘f’ age 43 years
b. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS (ONE CHANCE)
On the 12th May, 2019 at about 2230hrs our operative arrested
1. Fatai Idris ‘m’ age 37 years from Kogi state
2. Emeka Ozemina ‘m’ age 26 years from Enugu state
In a vehicle with their victim struggling around Next Cash and Carry. Our operatives explain that when they noticed how suspicious the vehicle Movement was they decided to block it and the victim was rescued. Upon interrogation the suspects stated they are a one chance gang that operate around Dutse Alhaji, Gwarimpa, Mabushi and Next Cash and Carry areas.
According to them they had two (2) victims on that day. Which they picked from Dutse Alhaji and robbed around Charlie Boy area while the vehicle is on motion, and the second by Next Cash and Carry. According to the first victim one Esther Ekenga, the suspects picked her by Dutse Alhaji, on her way to Berger. On reaching Charlie Boy, Emeka who was sitting beside her at the back seat held her round the neck threatening to break her neck if she make any move and Mario (who is at large) and the gang leader asked her to bring everything she had on her, she then gave them the sum of nineteen thousand (N19,000) naira and her phone.
Efforts are on to get Mario arrested.
c. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS
On the 5th May, 2019 at about 0800hrs the manager of a filling station located in Lugbe was taking the sum of three million (N3,000,000) naira to the bank on a motorcycle when the motorcycle was ambushed by four (4) armed men who pushed the motorcycle and dispossessed her of the money. Other motorcycle riders in the area who thought it was an accident chased the vehicle carrying the suspects and in the process the tyre of the vehicle pulled out and the car was demobilized. The suspects then ran into the bush around Piyakasa village. The Police was then informed and the vehicle towed to the station. Operatives then used the plate number to track the owner who is a member of the gang and was on his way with other gangs members for an operation at Jabi on the 6th May 2019. The suspects arrested are;
1. Samuel Monday ‘m’ age 23 years from Kogi state
2. Isaac Kiri ‘m’ age 40 years from Rivers state
3. Alex Enyame ‘m’ 37 years from Imo state and their herbalist
4. Abdul Usman ‘m’ age 40 years from Kogi state.
Upon interrogation the gang members said they all came to Abuja at the instance Friday the gang leader who is at large for robbery. They said planning an operation is always with an insider especially security guards in the houses so robbed. On his part the herbalist Abdul stated that he use charms and incantations to cause rain anytime they are going for an operation. Exhibit recovered from them are;
1. Charms
2. One (1) cutlass
3. One (1) bar
4. One (1) giant cutter
5. One (1) sharp iron
6. Two (2) hacksaws
7. Two (2) vehicle plate numbers used during operation.
Efforts are on to arrest two members of the gang, Daddy and Friday who are on the run.
d. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT AND BEING IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM
On the 4th May, 2019 at about 2130hrs, our men on Stop and search around Mabushi Roundabout, accosted two men for a search after noticing their suspicions moves one of them Friday udoka ran but John Ayiten age 30yrs was arrested with a locally made pistol. Upon interrogation he confessed that they were on their way to Jabi for robbery operation from Mabushi. He further added that they normally pick their targets in the afternoon and then move to act at night. Investigation still on going and efforts are on to arrest Friday Udoka.
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e. ARREST OF AN EMPLOYMENT RACKETEERING MEMBER
On the 7th May, 2019 at about 1600hrs one Egbunu Vicent Onuche ‘m’ age 25yrs was arrested by our operative, upon a report by one Ijeoma Ebenje that he Vincent collected the sum of two hundred thousand (N200, 000) naira from her with a promise to get her a replacement employment with the Nigeria Immigration Service. Upon interrogation he admitted to the crime and explained he met one Alhaji Sanusi Musa sometimes back who told him that if he have anybody looking for employment he can assist. Vincent then informed his friend Ekene Ijeoma’s brother who then told her about the offer. She was asked to pay the sum of two hundred thousand (N200, 000) naira which she did and even got a confirmation email from the fraudsters created Immigration E-mail Address. He said sixteen (16) other people paid him the sums ranging from two hundred thousand (N200,000) naira to three hundred thousand (N300, 000) naira for employment into the Nigeria Prison Service and replacement into the Nigeria Immigration Service. He explained that crisis started when on the date of the said interview and collection of appointment letters, One Mamman that is supposed to facilitate the process asked for additional four hundred and fifty thousand (N450,000) naira collectively from all of them.
Find attach a copy of the e-mail sent to Ijeoma. Also during interrogation two (2) people that were defrauded, namely;
1. Noah Akaninyeneipe
2. Imhakalu Ikahena Pettron
All his victims came forward with their proof of payment to Vincent for employment into the Nigeria Prison Service. Investigation is still on going to arrest the said Mamman and Alhaji Sanusi Musa.
f. ARREST OF A CAR THIEF
On the 19th April, 2019 at about 2330hrs by Airwave Hotel Wuse one Marvin Baraya ‘m’ age 25years old, stole the car key’s of one Seun Ayodeji while he was asleep. The vehicle a Toyota Camry, 2010 model black in colour was stolen and hidden at Wuse Zone 2. He then got a buyer at Wuse Zone 3, the buyer then alerted the Police of the transaction as according to him, it looks suspicious. Our men then arranged with the buyer and the suspect was arrested during the transaction on the 23rd April, 2019 by 1400hrs. Upon interrogation he confessed to the crime and admitted he even went back to where the owner of the vehicle was to make sure he monitors his every move before leaving the place by 0500hrs of the 19th April, 2019.
He will be charged to court soonest.
g. RAID ON DRUG DEALERS AND HIDE OUTS
A deliberate effort is being made by the command to checkmate the activities of drug dealers and peddlers because it is believed drugs aids in the commission of crimes Especially among the youth hence the re-newel efforts. A raid was carried out at Apo Mechanic village London line where two (2) suspects namely Chibuike Odiksieme ‘m’ age 34years and Sunday Anene ‘m’ age 42years were arrested for the production of a local drink popularly known as monkey tail on the 7th May, 2019 by 1200hrs, the drink is made of weed and gin. Equally Obinna Ugwu ‘m’ age 32years, Micah Felix ‘m’ age 27years Aliyu Abubakar ‘m’ age 23 years and Abraham Gabriel ‘m’ age 23 years all drug dealers were arrested in Jikwoyi, Apo, Galadimawa and Gwagwalada respectively;
Also in the same vain
On 4th May, 2019 at about 1230hrs following a tip off, one Usman Shuaibu ‘m’ 40 years old of Area 1 shopping Center was arrested for being in possession of hard drugs. The suspect confessed to being the owner and also a supplier to some members of the public. The suspect who was handed over to Anti-Narcotic section for further investigation, had the following Exhibits:
1. Sixty six (66) packets of Diazepam
2. Nine (9) packets of Roaches
3. Nineteen (19) packets of super appetite
4. Fourteen (14) packets of soda mint
5. One (1) Toyota Camry, Reg. No. Kuj 449LB
6. One (1) Taksun calculator and
7. Four (4) cell phone.
He further stated that he was operating a medicine store before it was demolished, which led to him selling the drugs in his car. Investigations will continue to find out if he has a practicing license and his suppliers.
h. RAIDS
On the 22nd April, 2019 at about 2100hrs raids were carryout around Wuse by Tudun Wada Secondary School and Arewa bridge the following suspects were arrested:
1. Abdulazze Yusuf ‘m’ age 22yrs
2. Sarki Emmanuel ‘m’ age 22yrs and
3. Bilyaminu Abdullahi ‘m’ age 23yrs
All of no fixed address upon interrogation they confessed to be the ones robbing people of their phones and bags around the Tudun Wada and Arewa bridge areas of wuse.
On 13th May, 2019 at about 2120hrs Police operatives from Wuse division conducted raids at Zone 4, Wuse 2. Eight (8) suspects were arrested and investigation is ongoing. The following exhibit were recovered;
Fake dollar notes
bottles of codeine syrup
Stolen iPhone handset valued one hundred and fifty thousand (N150,000) naira.
i. ARREST OF MOBILE PHONE THIEF/RECOVERY OF EXHIBIT
On 12th May, 2019 at about 1400hrs, following discreet investigation a team of Police operatives from Wuse Division arrested one Christ Ikechukwu ‘m’ aged 24yrs for being in Possession of one HUAWEI phone that was stolen from an apartment at Wuse Zone 3 on 13th March, 2019. The suspect was arrested in Dunamis Church Dutse Sokale where he lives. Investigation is ongoing.
j. ARREST OF HAND BAG SNATCHER/RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS.
On 11th May, 2019 at about 0530hrs, Police patrol team from Wuse Division arrested one Hassan Umar ‘m’ aged 20 years, for dispossessing his victim of her hand bag which contained some valuables. The suspect who operate around Wuse market, confessed to the crime and he is helping with the ongoing investigation. The following exhibits which belong to his female victim, have been recovered as exhibits: one brown hand bag, one Nokia phone, make up items and the sum of one thousand five hundred naira (N1,500) only. The suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.
I want to reiterate the Commands appreciation to the public and encourage them to be of security conscious at all times; while reporting any strange individuals or suspicious movements to the Police promptly, please.
CP Bala Ciroma
Commissioner of Police
FCT Command
