The FCT Police Command has arrested 51 suspects for armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism as well as hacking of residents bank accounts and emptying the accounts.
Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT CP Bala Ciroma made this known while addressing journalists, Thursday, at the command headquarters, Abuja.
The police boss said, “Following an ongoing investigation into the fraudulent transfer of money from a robbery victim’s bank account, police operatives from the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have arrested seven members of a notorious robbery gang that specialise in transferring money through bank accounts linked to their victims SIM cards.”
He named the suspects as: Salisu Maaki; Abraham Yusuf; Mohammed Auwal; Babangida Mohammed; Abubakar Musa; and Abubakar Ibrahim Sadiq.
According to him, “The syndicate, whose robbery operation is targeted at their victims’ SIM cards, especially SIMs linked to bank accounts, were arrested at their hideout in Keffi, Nasarawa state.
“Most bank accounts used as destination accounts where the proceeds of this crime are lodged are bank accounts created by the syndicate for unsuspecting persons picked from the streets.
“When such accounts are opened, the leader of the syndicate takes custody of the ATM cards and use same to withdraw all money transferred into the account from victims’ whose account have been hacked.”
Ciroma said exhibits recovered from the suspects include: 13 phones; 55 SIM cards; and six ATM cards, adding that the suspects would be arraigned in court when investigation is concluded.
Similarly, the command arrested five people suspected to provide information to kidnappings syndicates that have been terrorising communities in Abaji Area Council and environs.
They are: Yusuf Sani; Mohammed Abdullahi; Surajo Ali; Bello Mohammed, and Aliyu Yusuf.
The police boss, who said the five suspects had made useful information to the Police to facilitate the arrest of their cohorts, disclosed that their arrest was in line with the commitment of the command to tackle cases of kidnapping in the area.
He said the Command was making concerted effort to arrest their cohorts who are currently at large. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.
In a related development, operatives of the command on July 30, 2019, arrested a 40-year-old man allegedly involved in running a gun fabrication outlet in Kulo village of Abaji Area Council.
The CP said the arrest of the suspect was in furtherance to an ongoing investigation into the source of two guns recovered from two suspects arrested over a robbery operation.
He further stated that two brothers who supplied charms used by the suspects to carry out robbery operations were also arrested.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include seven locally fabricated single barrel guns, charms, four barrels and some blacksmith tools, he said.
