The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has warned influential Nigerians against interfering in criminal investigations or attempting to secure the release of suspects arrested for serious offences.

The command said such interference could amount to obstruction of justice and attract scrutiny.

The warning came as the police intensified operations against criminal networks in Abuja and adjoining communities, arresting 10 suspected traffic robbers, dismantling a motorcycle-snatching syndicate, rescuing three kidnap victims and breaking up a six-man housebreaking gang.

The command said the operations followed a review of crime patterns across the FCT and a realignment of its intelligence and operational units.

While parading the suspects in Abuja, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, said the command had reviewed the locations, patterns and methods used by criminal gangs before deploying personnel.

“In order to effectively tackle crime and criminality, especially incidents of stolen vehicles and armed robbery within the Federal Capital Territory, we went back to our drawing board, where we undertook a detailed review of the crime patterns within the FCT,” Sanusi said.

The command said the new strategy had yielded results, with several suspects arrested during separate operations.

The police also identified traffic robbery as a concern, particularly around major intersections.

According to the command, some suspects disguise themselves as street traders and hawkers, using traffic congestion and delays at traffic lights to attack motorists and passengers.

Sanusi said, “It is true that we have the menace of traffic robbers—those who pose as sellers of wipers and other things at traffic lights where road users have to slow down. They come under the pretext of selling these items, thereby attacking unsuspecting commuters, dispossessing them of their valuables, and escaping through the canals.”

He said the situation had generated widespread complaints from residents and motorists, prompting the command to intensify patrols and intelligence gathering around identified flashpoints.

The police said the situation had generated widespread complaints from residents and motorists, prompting intensified patrols and intelligence gathering around identified flashpoints.

He said following complaints received last Sunday, Divisional Police Officers in the city centre were directed to move against suspected traffic robbers and clear congested roads of criminal elements disguising themselves as hawkers.

The Commissioner of Police said, “The operation resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects identified as Umar Salihu, Yusuf Isa, Aliyu Hamza, Abubakar Naziru, Muhammad Musa, Yagugu Muhammad, Suwidi Jibril, Kasimu Taraba, Abubakar Sani and Aminu Umar”.

The command said the arrests would be followed by further investigation to establish the suspects’ level of involvement in traffic robbery and other related offences.

The police also arrested 20 persons for driving against traffic, popularly known as “one-way”, during the enforcement operation.

The suspects were subsequently charged in court, while several vehicles allegedly used to violate traffic regulations were impounded.

The police also arrested 20 persons for driving against traffic, popularly known as “one-way”, during the enforcement operation.

The suspects were subsequently charged to court, while several vehicles were impounded.

In another major breakthrough, operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU) dismantled a robbery syndicate allegedly specialising in the snatching of motorcycles from commercial motorcyclists in the Nyanya and Kubwa areas.

The command said the gang had developed a dangerous method of attacking commercial motorcyclists.

According to the police, the suspects would use vehicles to deliberately hit motorcyclists, causing them to fall before making away with their motorcycles.

Sanusi said, “What these robbers do is they go after motorcyclists, hit them with their vehicle, and as they fall down, they pick the motorcycle and go. In some instances, they even kill their victims”.

The investigation followed a robbery report recorded in Nyanya on July 14 and another incident with a similar pattern in Kubwa.

He said Police investigators subsequently traced 32-year-old Ismail Tasiu to a hotel in Jabi District, where they arrested him.

A second suspect, 35-year-old Ademu Aliyu, the CP said, was also arrested and identified by investigators as the alleged principal receiver of stolen motorcycles.

He said five motorcycles were recovered from the suspects, alongside three knives, a number plate and a face cap bearing the inscription “Kaduna Vigilante Services”.

The police said the items formed part of the evidence being examined in connection with the syndicate’s activities.

Sanusi also issued a strong warning to individuals allegedly attempting to frustrate the prosecution of arrested suspects.

The warning has introduced a political dimension to the crackdown, with the police declaring that influential persons who use their positions or connections to interfere with criminal investigations could themselves come under investigation.

The command said some persons had already gone to court seeking fundamental rights for suspects arrested in connection with the robbery operations.

He said influential persons should desist from using their positions or connections to secure bail or obstruct investigations.

The police said such actions would not be tolerated and could lead to further investigation of those involved.

The police stated, “It might interest you to know that as notorious as they are, we have some persons who are even going to court to sue for fundamental rights”

Sanusi added, “We are on the trail of those people to come and tell us what their links are with these criminals.

“If they try to overpower us, we will expose them so that the public will know who they are, whatever office they stand to represent”.

The command also recorded a major success in its anti-kidnapping operations following the rescue of three victims held hostage in New Nyanya, Nasarawa State.

The command also recorded success in its anti-kidnapping operations following the rescue of three victims held hostage in New Nyanya, Nasarawa State.

The operation followed a distress call received from France on August 14 concerning the abduction of residents in the Nyanya axis.

Acting on intelligence gathered during the investigation, operatives of the VCRU traced the kidnappers and arrested two suspects identified as Godwin Afekhide and Aaron Ogbu.

The three victims were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families.

The command said no ransom was paid to secure their release.

The operation, according to the police, demonstrated the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation between law enforcement agencies, residents and members of the public.

Sanusi said, “In a separate operation, the police also arrested a six-man gang allegedly responsible for a series of housebreaking incidents in the FCT.

“Acting on intelligence, operatives of the VCRU traced the kidnappers and arrested two suspects identified as Godwin Afekhide and Aaron Ogbu.

“The three victims were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families, with the police confirming that no ransom was paid.

As the nation’s capital, Abuja attracts politicians, diplomats, business executives, civil servants and visitors, making security a critical governance issue.

The growing population and expansion of satellite towns have also placed additional pressure on security agencies, particularly in areas such as Nyanya and Kubwa.

The FCT Police Command said it would not relent in its efforts to identify and dismantle criminal networks operating within the territory.

The command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies.

It also appealed to residents to provide credible intelligence, stressing that timely information remained crucial to preventing attacks and apprehending criminals. (The Nation)

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