The police have arrested three suspects in connection with housebreaking and the robbery of gold and other valuables in Abuja.
This was announced by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, during a media briefing in the capital.
According to Adejobi, the arrests followed an investigation by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT.
He revealed that the prime suspect in the case was a fish trader at the Kado fish market in Abuja.
He narrated that the suspects had reportedly raided three houses in the Lugbe area before targeting a fourth house. They jumped the fence and used a motor jack to expand the bars of the burglary-proof windows, gaining access to the house.
While inside, they discovered a safe, which they forcibly opened using a hammer and chisel. They found money, documents, and gold inside the safe.
“Upon the discovery, the prime suspect contacted a buyer to dispose of the items, and he realised over ₦60 million after selling the items,” Adejobi stated.
In a related operation, IRT operatives arrested 16 suspects involved in the theft and robbery of motorcycles and tricycles in Plateau State.
Adejobi explained that the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence. They were particularly active at night, stealing unattended tricycles and posing as police officers to confiscate motorcycles.
The police spokesman noted that the syndicate members used fake identity cards to impersonate police officers, stopping motorcyclists and accusing them of late-night movement.
He stated that they would then confiscate the motorcycles, instructing the owners to retrieve them from the nearest police station, adding that several motorcycles and tricycles stolen by the syndicate were sold to a receiving group within their network.
Adejobi reported that police operatives had recovered eight motorcycles and 11 tricycles from the suspects.
He added that in the past six weeks, police operatives have arrested a total of 1,284 suspects for various offences, including armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, homicide, and cultism.
Among these, 307 were arrested for armed robbery, 296 for kidnapping, 301 for homicide, 176 for rape and defilement, and 204 for cult-related offences.
During this period, police recovered 284 firearms, 6,702 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, and 107 vehicles. Furthermore, 97 kidnap victims were rescued, he said.
The police also urged Nigerians to report any erring officers, stating the importance of community involvement in maintaining law and order.
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