By Attah Ede
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Saturday said the command had arrested members of a suspected one-chance robbery syndicate identified as Okwudili Benjamin, 41, a resident of Mami Road, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, and Chinedu Mbaka, 37, a resident of Aso B, Nasarawa State.
CP Sanusi, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, explained that preliminary investigations revealed that the two suspects were responsible for several one-chance robbery incidents within the city centre.
He further stated that investigations revealed that on the night of their arrest, the suspects were waiting for an accomplice before setting out to pick up unsuspecting victims. Recovered exhibits were also identified as belonging to several previous victims.
According to him, the command expanded its investigations and traced their usual receiver, identified as Osondu Bernard, to NNPC Junction, Nyanya, where he was also arrested. He said all the suspects are presently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Speaking on attacks on police personnel, the commissioner explained that a police operative was shot by gang members on August 16, 2026, in an attempt to rescue one of their members, Mushahu Ishak, who had been arrested during a raid on Kagarko Forest.
According to him, the officer was shot in the right side of his chest during an ambush but is recovering.
He said two AK-47 rifles were recovered during the raid.
The Police Commissioner also revealed that suspects connected with the discovery of a lifeless body along the Kubwa Expressway near Katampe had been identified, including a married woman.
He identified the woman as Mrs Rukayat Muhammed of Garki Area 2, adding that investigations indicated she was in a romantic relationship with the deceased and had saved his contact on her mobile phone under the name Safiyat.
Sanusi said: “Investigations also revealed that the suspect and the deceased had lodged at Good Samaritan Guest House, 2nd Avenue, Gwarimpa Area, where they spent some time together. The suspect informed us that she discovered the deceased was no longer breathing and had died. Rather than immediately reporting the incident to the police, the suspect took the deceased’s mobile phone and left the hotel.
“Several hours later, after attempts by the hotel management to establish contact with the occupants of the room proved unsuccessful, access was gained into the room, where the lifeless body of the deceased was discovered.
“Our investigation revealed that, instead of reporting the discovery to the police, two members of the hotel management identified as Ibrahim Omeiza and Kefas Bitrus subsequently removed the body from the room and transported it to the Kubwa Expressway near Katampe Under Bridge, where they dumped it by the roadside, apparently in an attempt to distance the hotel and its management from the incident.”
“We have therefore been able to unravel a significant part of the mystery surrounding the discovery of the lifeless body. Let me, however, make it clear that investigations are still ongoing.
“The exact cause and circumstances of the deceased’s death are still under investigation. Other investigative processes are being pursued to determine the full facts of the case. Anyone found to have played a role in the death or subsequent concealment and abandonment of the body will be made to face the law.
“This case also provides an opportunity to remind members of the public that, while the police and other security agencies have the primary responsibility of preventing and investigating crime, members of the public also have an important role to play.
“Those who, rather than assisting law enforcement, choose to conceal information, obstruct investigations or otherwise undermine our efforts should understand that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with them. The law will take its course,” he said.
The CP therefore called on residents to remain vigilant and security-conscious, cooperate with the police and other law enforcement agencies, and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency contact lines.
He reminded residents that security is a collective responsibility, assuring them that the police will continue to do their part but also need the cooperation, vigilance and support of members of the public to keep the FCT safe.
