The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 11 suspects over alleged armed robbery and “one-chance” operations, recovering three locally made pistols, 38 mobile phones and other exhibits.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja.
Sanusi said the command had intensified covert and overt security operations across the territory to tackle criminal activities and maintain peace.
He explained that on September 17, 2026, operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested two suspected armed robbers, Jamilu Abdulsalam and Ibrahim Isa Sani, along the AYA-Nyanya Expressway.
According to him, the suspects allegedly belonged to a criminal syndicate operating in Abuja and parts of Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi states.
“The syndicate operates across Abuja and parts of Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi States. They carefully select targets, study their movements before attacking and robbing them at gunpoint,” the commissioner said.
He added that the suspects were apprehended shortly after an alleged robbery while attempting to escape to their hideout in Nasarawa State.
Items recovered from them included three locally made pistols, three live cartridges, four knives, 17 mobile phones, two cutlasses and a point-of-sale (POS) machine.
In a separate operation, the police arrested Chibuike Odeh, a resident of Daki-Biyu, Jabi, in connection with an armed robbery reported on October 18.
Sanusi alleged that Odeh, who wore a face mask during the attack, robbed a woman returning from work on September 26, taking her handbag containing an iPhone.
The suspect was also accused of using the victim’s phone and ATM card to withdraw all the money in her bank accounts.
A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of a bag, a sharp knife, an iron rod, a face mask, a power bank and a voter card.
The police commissioner further announced the arrest of eight suspected members of a “one-chance” robbery syndicate allegedly responsible for attacking the wife of a police officer who boarded a taxi at AYA Roundabout on August 7.
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The suspects were identified as Yunusa Sani, Ismail Mohammed, Abubakar Usman, Haruna Musa, Abdulrazaq Mohammed, Isah Abdulrahman, Isa Abdullahi and Aliyu Shuaibu.
Sanusi said the suspects allegedly dispossessed the victim of her mobile phone and emptied her bank account.
He explained that the command deployed digital forensic and reconstruction technology to unravel the operation, trace electronic transactions and identify the suspects.
“With the aid of digital reconstructive technology, we deconstructed the entire operation, traced all electronic transactions and arrested the suspects,” he said.
The commissioner disclosed that 21 mobile phones and three laptops, including the victim’s devices, were recovered during the operation.
He added that one of the suspects, Haruna Musa, allegedly specialised in changing the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of stolen phones to prevent them from being traced.
According to Sanusi, the police have also identified individuals suspected of receiving stolen properties, while the arrested suspects would be charged in court after investigations are concluded.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or criminal activities to the nearest police station.
The command also provided its emergency contact numbers, 08032003913 and 08061581938, for residents seeking police assistance.