One-Chance Menace: Avoid Unpainted Taxis- FCT Police Warn

One-Chance Menace: Avoid Unpainted Taxis- FCT Police Warn

In furtherance of our commitment to protect lives and property and combat crime in the Federal Capital Territory, the Command has continue to redoubled its effort in ensuring that FCT residents enjoy quality service delivery from the Police.

On Thursday, 20th June, 2019, I was at Abaji in company of the DCP operations and Commanders of the various striking-force of the Command to interact with community leaders and assure them of our willingness to work with them in ensuring that communities in the axis enjoy quality service delivery. The visit was also a clarion call on the communities to imbibe the principles of community police by supporting the police with information. Another important aspect of the visit was to review and reinforce the ongoing operation Puff Adder in the area.

It is also important to state that the Command is making concerted effort to curb the menace of one chance robbery/ 419 in FCT. Part of the measures deployed by the Command, include the clampdown on operators of unpainted taxis and raid of blackspots use as meeting points for one chance robbers. This is to complement other existing measures put in the place by the Command to check the crime.

I therefore want to enjoin members of the public to complement our effort by being security conscious, vigilant and avoid using unpainted taxis.

Below are some achievements of the Command in the last couple of weeks:-

ARREST OF SUSPECT/ RECOVERY OF EXHIBIT
On 19th May, 2019 at about 1430hrs following a distress call police operatives arrested one Mustapha Aliyu ‘M’ 22 Years in possession of a freshly severed head of a 3 years old boy who was later identified as Usman Awalu of Rugan Fulani close to Leleyi village in Kwali Area Council. The suspect confessed that prior to his arrest, he has beheaded four (4) children and gave their heads to his master who is now at large. According to him, he is paid One Hundred and Seventy Thousand (N170,000) for every male victim and One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira (N160,000) for every female victim. He said his victims were taken from Sheda, Kwali, Kilankwa, Gwako and Leleyi villages. Effort is being intensified to arrest his master who is currently at large.

ARREST OF SUSPECTS/RECOVERY OF FIREARMS
On 17/06/2019 at about 0900hrs, following a tip off police detectives have recovered one locally fabricated Sub Machine Gun (SMG) with two (2) live ammunition from one Jacob Augustine (aka) J. Boy ‘m’ age 28yrs at his apartment in Keffi, Nasarawa State. Upon his arrest, the suspect during interrogation gave useful information that led to the arrest of one Tahiru Sule ‘m’ age 29yrs and Zephaniah Israel ‘m’ age 28yrs who are members of his gang. Efforts is being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

Similarly, On 14th June, 2019 at about 02:30hrs following a distress call that some hoodlums were operating at Jikwoyi, Police Operatives were dispatched to the scene forcing the suspects to abandon their firearms and flee the scene on sighting the patrol team. The exhibits recovered from the scene are: one locally made pistol and two live cartridges. Effort is being intensified to arrest the suspects.

Furthermore, On 18/06/2019 at about 0120hrs Police operatives attached to Galadimawa Division while responding to distress call from an estate arrested two armed robbery suspects and recovered one locally made pistol and one live ammunition from one Abdulateef Olayintan ‘m’ age 45yrs and Ayemujuba Olamilekan ‘m’ age 23yrs. Also recovered from the suspects who went to the estate for robbery operation are: two cartoons of tiles and some quantity of fresh leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

On 30th May, 2019 following a discreet investigation, Police Operative arrested one Christian Oghene a member of a notorious armed robbery syndicate who specialise in attacking POS centres around Jikwoyi, Kurudu and Sharp corner in Mararaba. One locally made revolver pistol with three (3) rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him.

On 8th June, 2019 at about 0430hrs following a distress call Police Operative arrested one Austin Lucky who went to rob at Gwari village Mpape. One locally made barretta pistol was recovered from the suspect as exhibit. Effort is being intensified to arrest other members of his gang who fleet on sighting the Police patrol team.

In another development, on 3rd June, 2019 acting on tip off and following a discreet operation, Police operatives from the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad have arrested ten armed robbery suspects who have been terrorising Gwagwalada and its environs. The suspects who are members of a notorious armed robbery gang that rob and attack their victims with dangerous weapons, were arrested at an uncompleted building which they use as their hideout. The suspects arrested are: Mohammad Jamilu ‘m’, Nasiru Mohammed ‘m’, Jamilu Jibril ‘m’, Atau Abubakar, Nafiu Mohammed ‘m’, Sadiq Abdullahi ‘m’, Hashiru Garba ‘m’, Isaiku Ahmed ‘m’ and Danjuma Abubakar ‘m’. The confessed to their participation criminal activities like housebreaking, phone snatching and armed robbery. Also arrested, is one Salisu Ali ‘m’ 54 years old who is the major receiver of the items robbed by the suspects. The exhibits recovered from suspects include: Three (3) plasma Television, Two (2) generators, three (3) laptops, one axe, one dagger, assorted charms, jewelleries, clothes, shoes, among others.

Also, on 31st June, 2019 at about 1400hrs following a complaint Police operatives arrested one Kamal Gali ‘m’ 18 years old who specialises in attacking his victims with dangerous weapons and robbing them of their phones and other valuables. He was arrested after a complaint was received from one of his victims. Upon receipt of the Complaint, Police operatives swung into action and traced the suspect to his hideout at Jabi forest where he was arrested and the victim’s phone recovered from him. He has made useful statement about his involvement in the crime. Exhibits recovered from him include one jack Knife, one infinix phone and one Samsung Duos phone. He will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.
The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

ARREST OF ONE CHANCE ROBBERY SUSPECT
In furtherance with the ongoing operation by the Command to curb one chance robbery/419 in FCT, On 31st May, 2019 at 0930hrs Operatives of the Command Anti-One Chance following a tip off arrested one Osita Chukwuemeka Orotu ‘m’ 28 years, a notorious one chance robber, at his hide in Angwan Cement Kado. Until his arrest, the suspect was on the Command’s watch list for his nefarious activities. Effort is being intensified to arrest his cohorts.

Also, 13th June, 2019 at about 1400hrs police detectives acting on a complaint arrested two notorious fraudsters (419ners), one Uche Ugbabor and Emeka Okafor, at their hideout in Shagari quarters Deidei. The suspects who pose as stranded foreign national to lure and defrauding their victims, belong to a notorious 419 gang that has been terrorising unsuspecting persons around Kubwa/Deidei axis. Effort is being intensified to arrest their cohorts who are now at large. He will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

Similarly, on 15th June, 2019 police operative from the Anti-One Chance unit acting on tip off carried out raid at some notorious 419/one chance robbery meeting points located at Ungwan Shehu and Ungwan Cement in Karimo. The raid led to the arrest of one Uche Johnson Eze ‘m’ 38yrs, Ekechukwu Eze ‘m’ 27yrs, Solomon Ifeanyi ‘m’ 31yrs, Onome Emele ‘m’ 33yrs all of Ungwan Shehu Karimo and one Sunday Agbom ‘m’ 32yrs of Giri, Gwagwalada. Also, arrested is one John Idehi ‘m’ 48 years, a member of the one chance/419 syndicate, who poses as a native doctor (babalawo) and custodian of the concoctions used in doubling money for their unsuspecting victims. Concerted effort is on to arrest other members of the gang who are now at large.
All suspects will be arraigned in court when investigations are concluded.

The Command wishes to empathically state that the onslaught at the hideouts of one chance robbers/fraudsters (419ner) is an ongoing exercise.

ARREST OF DRUG PEDDLERS/RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS
As part of the on-going operations launched by the Command to curb drug peddling in FCT, the Command Anti Narcotic Unit under the CIID in separate operations carried out between 6th to 18th June, 2019 has smashed five (5) notorious drug peddling syndicates operating at Gwarimpa Village, Galadimawa, Karu and Apo. The special operation carried out by the unit led to the recovery of fourteen wraps of cocaine, two hundred and ninety-two (292) wraps of dried leaves suspected to be marijuana (Indian hemp), Diazepam tablets, Tramadol tablets, Roche (Rohypnol) Tabs and other illicit drugs. The suspects arrested during the operations are: Anas Abubakar ‘m’ 23 years, Musa Buhari ‘m’ 30 years, Abdullahi Adamu ‘m’ 30 years, Adamu Ibrahim ‘m’, Abdullahi Adamu ‘m’, Mahi Ibrahim ‘m’ 20 years, Sanusi Attahiru ‘m’ 28 years, Yushau Dahiru ‘m’ 20 years, Nazifi Kabir ‘m’ 22 years, Samuel Jacob ‘m’ 32 years, Dennis salisu ‘m’ 23 years, Muktari Buhari ‘m’ 40 years, Ezekiel Donatus ‘m’ 40 years and Nazifi Saidu ‘m’ 25 years.

Similarly, the Command wishes to advise members of the public to guide against buying drugs from quacks hawking on the streets. One Adamu Ibrahim ‘m’ 26 years has been arrested by operatives of the FCT Police Command Anti-Narcotic Unit at Gwarimpa Village with twelve (12) bottles of fake codeine syrup and some forged drug stickers. The suspects who was arrested during a raid, replaces the original sticker on the cough syrup bottle with a forged stickers which indicates that the drug contains codeine. This is to boost his market and fetch him more profit. He sells each bottle of the fake drug at one thousand naira (N1000).

All suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.
It also is pertinent to state that, the Command Anti Narcotic Unit which was created barely three (3) months ago has made remarkable contribution to the renewed effort of the Command to tackle the menace of drug abuse, especially among our youths. The Command is making concerted effort to deal with the problem of drug abuse from it root, hence the ongoing clampdown by the Unit on the suppliers of these drugs and those peddling it on the streets. So far, about thirty (30) suspects have been arrested during raids by the unit at blackspots identified for drug peddling. While some of the suspects arrested have been charged to court and convicted for the crime, others recently arrested are still under investigation. Within this period, the Unit has recovered thirty-two (32) bags of dried leaves suspected to Marijuana (Indian hemp), bottles of codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, and other illicit substances.

ARREST OF RAPE SUSPECT
On 7th May, 2019 one Victor Achianu ‘m’ 33 years, a tricycle operator, has been arrested by police operatives for raping his passenger at Gidan Mangoro, Orozo. The suspect took his victim from Jikwoyi en-route Gidan Daya in Orozo but forcefully diverted her into a secluded spot at Gidan Mangoro where he raped her. He however abandoned his tricycle and fled from the scene after the lady raised an alarm that attracted some passers-by who came to her rescue. Oblivious of the fact that his victim had earlier reported to the police, the suspect approached the same police station to report that some hoodlums attacked and robbed him of his tricycle (keke Napep), the description of the tricycle which fit the one earlier recovered from the rape scene and brought to the police station. He was immediately arrested and was identified by his victim as the person who raped her, after the conduct of an identification parade. .

Similarly, on 17th May, 2019 one Ali Idris ‘m’ 30 years was arrested by police operatives from Dutse Alhaji for attempting to defile a 6-years-old girl. The suspect who was invited as a mason to the victim’s compound to effect some repairs, took advantage of the absence of adults and lured her into her parent’s apartment where he had undressed his trousers and was about to defile her before he was intercepted by the girl’s the aunt. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

ARREST OF SUSPECT/ RECOVERY OF FAKE CURRENCY
On 3rd June, 2019 at about 1130am Police operatives from CID while executing search warrant at the Sabon Gari apartment of one Okpara Samuel ‘m’ 38 years old recovered nineteen (19) pieces of counterfeit one thousand naira notes from a bag belonging to him. The suspect is under investigation for the offence of Conspiracy, Forgery and Obtaining Money under False Pretence. He will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

ARREST OF SUSPECT FOR JOB RACKETEERING/ RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS
On 15TH June, 2019 at about 1700hrs following a complaint, Police operatives have arrested one Nasir Abbas ‘m’ 24 years at a Hotel in Abacha road, Mararaba Nasarawa for employment racketeering and issuance of fake employment letters to desperate job seekers. The suspect charges his unsuspecting victims two Hundred Thousand naira (N200,000) for each letter of employment. Also arrested is a computer operator, one Udu Wisdom ‘m’ 22 years, who is responsible for the production of the forged documents. Exhibit recovered from the suspects are: some forged appointment letters purportedly issued by different government ministries and other Institutions. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

ARREST OF NOTORIOUS RECEIVER OF ROBBED PROPERTY
Following a tip off, Police detectives have arrested one Umar Musa ‘m’ 27 years who is a notorious receiver of robbed motorcycles. The suspect was arrested along with one Lawal Kabiru ‘m’ 23 years who bought a robbed Bajaj motorcycle from the first suspect. Effort is being intensified to arrest his cohort who rob and supply him with the motorcycles. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

Bala Ciroma
FCT Commissioner of Police