Operatives from the Zone 7 Police Command Headquarters, overseeing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have made significant arrests in a crackdown on car snatching, armed robbery, and murder. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the Niger State Police Command, resulted in the recovery of stolen vehicles, firearms, and laptops.
In a statement released by the zone’s Police Public Relations Officer, M.B Abdulkadir, four suspects were identified: Solomon Nuhu, 22; Faruk Umar, 17; Bolaji Yusuf, 34; and Lawal Yusuf, 38. The suspects face charges including car snatching, robbery, possession of prohibited firearms, murder, and criminal conspiracy.
Abdulkadir detailed the operation, stating that detectives from the Special Investigation Squad of Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, acted on intelligence to apprehend Haruna Akubo, also known as Young Alhaji. Akubo was found with five suspected stolen vehicles at L.Y Nadabo Motors in Karu LGA, Nasarawa State.
Additional arrests were made at Heart Plaza, Maraba, where Bolaji Yusuf and Abubakar Umar were detained. Yusuf was found in possession of two vehicle master keys, three stolen phones, and a bunch of car keys. Further investigation led to the recovery of 32 phones and a 9mm Beretta pistol, with Faruk Umar initially in possession of the firearm. Umar later claimed to have sold the pistol to Solomon Nuhu for N130,000.
The operation also uncovered stolen vehicles in Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State, including a Lexus IS 250 linked to the murder of its owner during the car theft. The suspect in this case, Ibrahim Umar, also known as Godiya, remains at large.
In total, police recovered 10 vehicles with altered chassis numbers, along with laptops and mobile phones. Assistant Inspector-General of Police for the zone, Ogundele Ayodeji, has ordered a thorough investigation, with plans to charge the suspects in court.
Ayodeji urged residents of the FCT to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and trust in the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.