On Tuesday, August 30, officers from the Wuye Divisional Headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command detained a four-man alleged "one-chance" criminal gang in Abuja's Wuye neighbourhood, saved a victim, and immediately seized N200,000 in cash from the offenders.
The suspects, Monday James (male), Ubeh Peter (male), Precious Ofili (female), and Rita Nkemjika (female), who have all been on the police watchlist, have been linked to organising and carrying out a string of car robberies known as "one chance" and a related fraudulent crime known as "419," particularly in the Wuye axis and surrounding areas, the Command stated in a statement by its spokesperson, Josephine Ade
The statement read in part, “Investigations revealed that on the said date (August 30) about 11:30 am, an unsuspecting innocent resident, unfortunately, walked into their sneer. The suspects having perfectly executed their criminal enterprise, forcefully pushed the female victim out of a fast-moving car and sped off.
“The surveillance team of the Wuye division, who were on routine patrol, with the help of residents rushed to her aid and chased the criminals. The Police, however, tactically effected the arrest of the suspects but the pressure from the irate crowd resulted in the burning of the operational vehicle of the suspects before the police could move it down to the station.”
The police added that the suspects confessed their mode of operation during interrogation.
Adeh said, “During interrogation, the suspects revealed to the police their modus operandi, stating that they have been in the criminal venture for over five years.
“To ensure that members of the public are aware of the existence and activities of these criminal elements, it is important to expose their age-long modus operandi as follows; An unsuspecting passenger is first picked along the road. The passenger is then physically evaluated to see if valuables could be collected, otherwise, they harsh a plan B to play on the greed and innocence of the victim by saying a huge amount of money is in the boot and needs spiritual intervention for cleansing. The suspect is promised part of the money only if he or she can provide enough money to secure the services of a spiritualist. To believe this is falling victim to the miscreants.”
In the statement, the FCT Police Commissioner, Babaji Sunday, reiterates the need for road users to not board vehicles at isolated places and unapproved motor parks. Adding that the anti-one-chance-unit of the Command and other similar sections across the Command has been beefed up to ensure that the menace and sundry crimes and criminality are nipped in the bud.
He stressed the need for members of the public to shun the practice of self-help in obtaining justice known as jungle justice while urging citizens to always contact the police in such situations, and assuring that the suspects will be made to face the full wrath of the law on conclusion of investigations.