**Says identified bandit routes in Bwari; other access routes from Niger, Kaduna, and Nasarawa blocked

**Explain how brother of River Park Estate resident faked own kidnap

By: Kingsley Omonobi

In furtherance of security measures aimed at stopping the wave of banditry/kidnapping attacks in the FCT, the police in Abuja have arrested a total of 1,012 suspected criminal elements following raids on black spots, hideouts, shanties, and uncompleted buildings across the federal territory.

The FCT Police Commissioner, Haruna Garba, who made this known on Wednesday, said they were arrested between January 15, 2024, and to date, noting that the measures against kidnapping have been boosted with the launch of this Special Intervention Squad inaugurated by IGP Kayode Egbetokun on January 17, 2024, in Abuja to curb the menace of kidnapping, armed banditry, and other sundry crimes in the Federal Capital Territory.

“These measures have yielded positive results as all the identified bandit’s routes, especially in Bwari Area Council, have been blocked by the police, thereby denying them access to the FCT via Niger, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States. Since then, no case of kidnapping has been recorded on that axis.

“In addition, many kidnapping and armed robbery suspects have been arrested and victims rescued. In the same vein, several arms, live ammunition, and vehicles taken away from victims have been recovered.”

Giving details of some of the criminal activities busted, CP Haruna said, “On January 17, 2024, at about 7 p.m., a victim, Segun Akinyemi of No. 10 Birnin Kebbi Street, Garki 2 Abuja, was abducted in front of his house while driving out with his grey-coloured Hilux Van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL by four (4) armed men who laid siege to a white Mercedes-Benz 230 car.

“The FCT police command, via the control room, alerted the patrol teams and men at the entry/exit points for rescue of the victim and arrest of the suspects. The CP FCT placed a call to his counterparts in the contiguous states, especially Kaduna.

“This contact paid off as police operatives in Kaduna intercepted the armed hoodlums at a filling station in Kawo, Kaduna State. There was an exchange of fire between the police operatives and the kidnappers.

“While three of them escaped, one of the suspects, later identified as Chinaza Philip Okoye, was arrested. Three (3) English pistols with fifteen (15) rounds of live ammunition and the said Hilux Van were recovered from him. The victim, who was in the vehicle, was rescued unharmed.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that two out of four (4) armed men are Abuja-based: Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and one Chidibere. It was also discovered that Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and his accomplices had earlier been arrested, sometime in November 2023, for armed robbery, and a snatched Honda car was recovered from them.

“He and his accomplices were arraigned before a High Court Judge in Kwali, Abuja, but were granted court bail, only for the suspects to get involved in this particular kidnapping case.

Regarding the fake kidnapping incident, CP Haruna said, “On January 20, 2024, at about 10 a.m., DPO River Park Division received a distress call from one Davison Henry of River Park Estate that his uncle, Nnamdi Agu of Games Village Estate, had not been seen for two (2) days, and he received a phone call from a strange number asking him to bring money if he wants his uncle to be released.

“In the process, he lured the caller to River Park Estate to collect money in order to facilitate the release. Meanwhile, a report has been made before the police, whereupon the police operatives laid siege, waiting for them to come for the ransom.

“In less than two hours, one Adamu Abubakar and Bello Hassan, all males of IDP Camp, Durumi emerged in a Toyota Corolla car with Reg. No. KMC 170 TT and were promptly arrested.

“In the course of investigation, it was gathered that Nnamdi Agu was never kidnapped at all. He faked his own kidnap to extort money from his brother, the complainant.

“The said Nnamdi Agu had in previous day taken a call girl by name Lilian Arisa of No. 8 Koforidua Street Wuse Zone 2, to a hotel for sexual purpose. He bargained to pay the girl the sum of #35,000. The girl paid twenty thousand #20,000 hotel accommodation and #10,000 for the Uber driver (Adamu Abubakar).

“In order to get money to defray this debt, he came up with the idea of him being kidnapped. The sad thing about this was that his brother, the complainant, had gone on social media to tell members of the public that his brother was kidnapped in Abuja, which was not true.

“This same suspect had sometimes in 2021 alleged that he was kidnapped in the eastern part of Nigeria, where a ransom of three million naira (N3, 000,000.00) was paid.

“On 18th of January, 2024, at about 10.45 p.m., the DPO Iddo division received a distress call that some armed bandits in a black-coloured Toyota Corolla fired the tyres of a moving Prado Jeep of one male adult later identified as Suleiman Sabo on his way home in Sabon Lugbe, thereby forcing him to stop.

“He was whisked away in the kidnappers’ vehicle to an unknown location, leaving behind his Prado Jeep and his wife. The police operatives from Iddo Division and the anti-kidnapping unit of the Command made a concerted effort to have the victim rescued and suspects arrested.

“The effort paid off on 21st of January 2024, when the DPO received information that something abnormal is happening in a particular house at Sauka village. The DPO moved in and cordoned the house; behold, the kidnapped victim was found with one Mohammed Abel armed with Mark IV riffle and ten (10) rounds of live ammunition.

“He was promptly arrested and the arm recovered from him. The victim was rescued but with gunshot injuries.  He is currently on admission at a hospital, in Abuja receiving treatment and in a stable condition.

“Again, on 21st January 2024 at about10.30pm, three armed hoodlums who specialize in handset and handbag snatching accosted a woman, Evelyn Okolie of Durumi village while waiting to board a taxi cab at Area 1 roundabout. The hoodlums while armed with a machete on top of motorcycle snatched the woman handbag and speed up with their motorcycle, while the woman shouted for help.

“Luckily, police from Durumi police station on stop and search stopped the motorcycle and arrested one Musa Abdullahi of no fixed address with a machete stained with blood while his two other accomplices escaped. The injured victim is receiving treatment at National Hospital, Abuja but in a stable condition. The suspect in custody is assisting the police to apprehend two of his accomplices on the run.

“On 21st January 2024 at about 4.30pm, police operatives from Life Camp Division on routine surveillance patrol intercepted one Damilola Akeredolu inside a Toyota corolla car with reg. No. RSH 144 RD, ash in colour belonging to one Blessing Aigbagboga of Efab Global Estate Life Camp which she parked in front of her residence.

“Further enquiry revealed that suspect was not the owner of the said vehicle but gained access into it with intention to steal the vehicle. Suspect is currently undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.