Police Nab Bandits’ Informant, 11 Others In Abuja

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested a wanted logistic supplier and informant to a kidnapping and banditry group terrorising the FCT and its environs.

The suspect, one Mohammed Hamza aka Auta, a 25-year-old, was arrested by the anti-Kidnapping unit of the Command at the Mongoro Forest.

In a statement issued to newsmen on Sunday, in Abuja by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the Command disclosed that: “The suspect, who has been on the wanted list of the Command, is being held for his involvement in supplying firearms, ammunition and other weapons; food items and illicit drugs to the criminals in their various hideouts in the forests using a motorcycle.

Exhibits recovered from the suspect include one AK47 rifle, AK47 ammunition, one mobile phone, foodstuffs and an unregistered boxer Motorcycle.

“Investigations are being intensified to identify and cutoff the criminal supply chain and arrest other members of the gang.”

According to the statement, similarly, the Command arrested twelve (11) criminal suspects for various crimes including illegal possession of firearms, illegal fabrication and production of small arms and light weapons, armed robbery, amongst other crimes.

“The suspects; Daniel Williams “M,” 51 yrs, Mohammed Yusuf “M,” 41 yrs, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi “M,” 26 yrs and Aminu Mohammed “M,” 41 yrs were intercepted and arrested in Zuba area of the FCT by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB).

“Four (4) locally made firearms and one (1) live cartridge were recovered from the suspects. Preliminary investigations by the Police revealed that the gang involved in fabricating and producing small and light weapons locally.”

The statement further stated that: “The operatives of Utako Divisional Police Headquarters on 07/06/2023 at about 1900hrs following a tip-off actionable intelligence arrested eight(8) suspected armed robbers at one Amala Garden in Utako. Following the arrest, three firearms of different caliber, knives and hard drugs were recovered from them.

“The suspects are: Sani Ibrahim ‘M’ 41 yrs old from Gere LGA of  Borno State, Yusuf Ilyasu AKA Tablet, an ex-convict ‘M’ 25 yrs old from Plateau State,  Awala Lawal an escapee from Kuje prison ‘M’ 22 yrs old of Kano state,  Hassan Daudo ‘M’ 34 yrs old from Borno State, Abbass Gidado ‘M’ 18 yrs old from Katsina state,  Shamsu Haibu ‘M’ 35 yrs old from Kano, Sani Suleiman ‘M’ 37 yrs old from Kano state and one Shehu Jimoh and ex-convict ‘M’ 26 yrs old from Kogi State.

“While investigation is ongoing on all cases, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, CP Haruna G. Garba psc wishes to reiterate his resolve to crush crime and criminality in all its manifestation within the FCT, as he warns all criminal elements  to steer clear of the FCT and its environs.”