June 11, 2023

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it had arrested an alleged informant and logistics supplier to a kidnapping and banditry group terrorising the FCT and its environs.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

She said the suspect, arrested by the anti-Kidnapping unit at the Mongoro Forest, had been on the wanted list of the command.

Adeh said the suspect was arrested over involvement in the supply of firearms, ammunition and other weapons.

She said the suspect was also involved in the supply of food items and illicit drugs to the criminals in their various hideouts in the forests using a motorcycle.

According to her, exhibits recovered from the suspect include one AK47 rifle, AK47 ammunition, one mobile phone, foodstuffs and an unregistered boxer motorcycle.

She said investigations into the case had been intensified to identify and cut off the criminal supply chain and arrest other members of the gang.

In a related development, Adeh said the command had arrested 11 suspects over illegal possession, fabrication and production of small arms and light weapons, armed robbery and other criminal offences.

She said the supects were intercepted and arrested in Zuba area of the FCT by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB).

Adeh said items recovered from the suspects were four locally made firearms and one live cartridge.

According to her, preliminary investigations by the police has revealed that the gang is involved in the fabrication and production of small and light weapons locally.

She said operatives from Utako Divisional Police Headquarters had on Wednesday arrested eight suspects over armed robbery at one Amala Garden in Utako.

Adeh said three firearms of different calibers, knives and hard drugs were recovered from the suspects, arrested following a tip-off.