No fewer than nine suspected armed robbers have been arrested by police officers from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.

The arrest followed a report received by the command that on January 18, 2026, armed robbers invaded a residence in Jikwoyi and made away with personal belongings, an unspecified sum of money, and a Toyota Corolla vehicle.

A statement on Friday by the FCT command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the suspects were traced and arrested on January 26, 2026, at their hideout in Nasarawa State, where they were allegedly planning another robbery operation in the Asokoro area of the FCT.

According to her, those arrested are Mohammed Yanusa (21), Abubakar Mohammed (20), Isah Salihu (18), Nura Zakare (20), John Paul Itodo (62), Augustin Daudu (30), Musbau Ali (32), Innocent Omale (44), and Usman Mohammed (22).

“The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained efforts to rid the FCT of criminal elements with the arrest of a notorious armed robbery syndicate and the recovery of stolen vehicles and other exhibits.

“The arrests followed a report by the FCT Police Command that on 18th January 2026, armed robbers broke into a residence in the Jikwoyi area of the FCT, carting away the occupants’ personal belongings, an unspecified sum of money, and his Toyota Corolla vehicle bearing registration number KUJ 549 CW. Acting promptly on the report, Police operatives attached to the Command’s Scorpion Squad commenced an extensive, intelligence-driven investigation.

“On 26th January 2026, Police operatives trailed and arrested the gang responsible for the robbery at their hideout in Nasarawa state, where they were hibernating and planning another robbery attack in the Asokoro area of the FCT. Suspects arrested include:

1. Mohammed Yanusa (21), 2. Abubakar Mohammed (20), 3. ⁠Isah Salihu (18) 4. ⁠Nura Zakare (20), 5. ⁠John Paul Itodo (62), 6. ⁠Augustin Daudu (30), 7. ⁠Musbau Ali (32), 8. ⁠Innocent Omale (44) and 9. ⁠Usman Mohammed (22). ”

She said recovered from the suspects include four television sets, five HP laptops, two Lenovo laptops, one Zinox laptop, one Dell laptop, two generators, two solar batteries, one pumping machine, one DJ mixer machine, four club lights, one speaker, ten bottles of Lambrusco wine, 60 bottles of red wine, one GOtv decoder, one knife, one cooking gas cylinder, one LG home theatre, and three vehicles.

“The vehicles recovered are a grey Toyota Camry with registration number MUS 234 CW, an ash-coloured Toyota

Corolla with registration number KUJ 549 CW, and an ash-coloured Toyota Camry with registration number MKD 372 AU, ” she added.

Adeh noted that during the investigation, the suspects reportedly confessed that they sold stolen vehicles to receivers in Kaduna and Kano states for between ₦550,000 and ₦650,000.

She said investigations have been expanded to arrest the receivers of the stolen vehicles, adding that the suspects will be charged in court at the conclusion of the investigations.

Adeh said, “In the course of investigations, the suspects revealed that they usually sell the stolen vehicles to receivers in Kaduna, Kaduna and Kano states at prices between ₦550,000 and ₦650,000.

“Investigations are being expanded to apprehend the receivers of the stolen vehicles. The suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

To report suspicious persons or activities, FCT residents are urged to promptly call the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883.” (The PUNCH)

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