By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Abuja police have cracked down on a syndicate targeting Bolt and Uber drivers, bringing an end to a high-profile e-hailing robbery operation.
FCT Police Commissioner Ahmed Sanusi revealed on Monday that operatives from the Violent Crime Response Unit nabbed four key suspects on July 7 after acting on a tip-off.
Parading the suspects alongside seized exhibits at the command headquarters, Sanusi highlighted the arrest as a major win in the police’s relentless campaign against violent crime in the FCT.
“The suspects operated by posing as regular passengers booking commercial vehicles through e-ride platforms before attacking the drivers, dispossessing them of their vehicles and other valuables,” the police commissioner said.
The operation led to the recovery of two vehicles allegedly stolen from victim, an ash-coloured Toyota RAV4 with registration number YAB 240 DL and a grey Honda Civic with registration number ABC 72 JP, Persecondnews reports.
Sanusi said the suspects, identified as Ibrahim Ismail, Ahmed Omar, Rizku Asehu and Omar Abubakar, would be charged to court after investigations.
Similarly, the police commissioner also announced the arrest of a suspected kidnapper and alleged logistics supplier linked to the July 8 abduction at Yellow House in the Mpape area of Abuja.
The suspect, identified as Oumar Odunda, a native of Zamfara State, was arrested on July 10 at Gedabri Village in neighbouring Nasarawa State by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit during follow-up investigations into the incident.
According to Sanusi, investigations revealed that Odunda was not only a member of the kidnapping gang but also supplied hard drugs, stimulants and other logistics used to sustain the group’s criminal operations.
“Our investigations have revealed that kidnapping gangs do not operate on weapons and ransom alone. They also rely on a steady supply of illicit drugs, stimulants and logistics to sustain their criminal activities,” Sanusi said.
He said the suspect later led operatives to three hideouts used by the gang in Nasarawa State, where an AK-47 rifle, illicit drugs, cash and other exhibits were recovered.
Recovered items included an AK-47 rifle, 25 packs of Tramadol 225mg, packs of Tramadol 100mg, substances suspected to be cocaine and cannabis sativa, cannabis pills, two bottles containing 500 tablets each of a substance identified as Mbazo, a digital weighing scale, two ATM cards, two bags and N250,000 cash.
Sanusi said the suspect remained in police custody and would be charged to court after investigations.
He attributed the command’s recent successes to intelligence provided by residents, saying public cooperation had continued to strengthen ongoing efforts to combat violent crime.
“The achievements I present today underscore the importance of partnership with the public and timely intelligence sharing in enhancing our efforts to keep the Federal Capital Territory safe for all residents and visitors alike,” he said.
Stressing the need for community cooperation, Police Commissioner Sanusi advised FCT residents to remain vigilant and report credible information to the authorities.
He pledged that the command will sustain its aggressive campaign against criminal networks, including vehicle thieves and kidnapping syndicates, to safeguard the capital.
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