The Nigeria Police Force has arrested five suspected members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate accused of carrying out a series of “one chance” attacks in Abuja, leaving at least two women dead and several others dispossessed of over ₦33 million.
Police sources said the suspects were arrested during a coordinated operation by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Force Intelligence Department following months of intelligence gathering and investigations into complaints lodged by victims and their relatives across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sources disclosed that the operation was carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police as part of ongoing efforts to rid the FCT and other parts of the country of violent robbery syndicates, particularly criminal groups operating under the guise of commercial transportation, popularly known as “one chance.”
The arrested suspects include the alleged gang leader, Solomon Haruna Abok, also known as “Solex”; Emmanuel Ibenni, alias “Markfish”; David Francis; Abdulmajid Hussain; and Faruk Yusuf, whom investigators identified as the suspected receiver of the gang’s stolen property.
Police sources said the arrests followed actionable intelligence and extensive surveillance conducted by operatives of the STS-FID under the leadership of ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey.
According to sources, investigations revealed that the gang had been on the radar of security agencies for more than one year owing to its alleged involvement in a string of robberies targeting unsuspecting commuters, particularly women, within Abuja and its environs.
“Acting on credible intelligence and numerous complaints received from victims and their relatives, operatives of the Special Tactical Squad launched a coordinated operation which led to the arrest of five notorious members of the syndicate,” a police source said.
The source explained that the suspects typically posed as commercial transport operators before picking up unsuspecting passengers and diverting them to isolated locations where they allegedly robbed them of cash, forced bank transfers and other valuables.
Sources confirmed that at least 11 victims and their relatives have so far come forward to identify members of the gang, with cumulative financial losses exceeding ₦33 million.
Police sources further disclosed that two women allegedly died at the hands of the syndicate despite complying with demands for money and valuables.
“The investigation established that the late Chinenye Bridget Okorobia was robbed of approximately ₦3.5 million before she was killed. Another victim, Chinemerem Paschalina Chuwumeziem, a nurse with the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, also lost her life in circumstances linked to the gang’s operations,” the source stated.
Several other victims reportedly lost substantial sums of money after being forced to transfer funds from their bank accounts during the attacks.
The suspects have reportedly made useful statements to investigators and confessed to their alleged roles in the crimes.
“The suspects have confessed to the crimes and are currently assisting investigators with further details concerning their activities, associates and additional victims who may not yet have reported the incidents to the police,” the source added.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include a blue Honda vehicle with registration number KFU 693 AA, believed to have been used in carrying out the attacks. Also recovered were an operational knife and black cloth materials allegedly used to blindfold victims.
Investigators also revealed that the suspected gang leader had repeatedly boasted that “no man born of a woman could arrest him.”
Police authorities described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing campaign against violent crime in the Federal Capital Territory and assured residents that efforts were continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the network.
“The investigation is still ongoing. Operatives are pursuing additional leads with a view to arresting other collaborators and ensuring that all those connected with the crimes are brought to justice,” the source added.
