Posted by Chinenye on Thu 16th Apr, 2026 - tori.ng
The FCT Police Command has dealt a massive blow to criminal gangs in Abuja, arresting 14 suspects and recovering 17 stolen vehicles following a month-long intelligence crackdown.
(Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi. Photo by. EKO 89.7FM)
On Wednesday, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command stated that 17 stolen cars had been recovered in Abuja and that 14 suspected members of a car theft and robbery organization had been arrested.
The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, told reporters at the command center that the arrests were the result of increased intelligence-led operations that had been going on since March 2026.
He claimed that auto theft, "one chance" robbery, and other associated crimes were the focus of the operations, which were conducted by divisions including Mabushi, Durumi, Maitama, and the Central Police Station.
Sanusi revealed that the suspects were connected to incidents involving cars that were utilized for illegal activities, taken from parking lots, and snatched at gunpoint.
“Through intelligence-led operations and strategic deployments, we arrested fourteen suspects and recovered seventeen vehicles,” he said, adding that some of the recovered vehicles had already been returned to their owners, while others were awaiting identification.
The police boss also revealed that operatives foiled a “one chance” robbery operation on April 10 along a deserted road in Abuja. According to him, officers on patrol intercepted a suspicious vehicle, prompting the suspects to open fire.
He said, “The officers responded decisively, injuring and arresting one of the suspects, while others fled into nearby bushes.”
Two female victims were saved from the car, he continued, where they had been tied up, noting that one of them alleged she was raped by a member of the gang.
Sanusi added, “In a follow-up investigation, one Cornelius Abang, a member of the gang who had fled the scene, was trailed and arrested.
“During interrogation, the victims positively identified him as the suspect who tied and raped one of them in the vehicle before their rescue. The suspects are still in custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.”
He further stated that a content creator, Pam Joshua, accused of circulating a misleading video suggesting bandit attacks in Abuja, had been arraigned. “Pam Joshua has been arraigned before a competent court of law for injurious falsehood and breach of public peace, and has been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial,” he said.
Sanusi emphasized that spreading lies that could incite fear is still illegal and advised locals to confirm security-related information with the appropriate authorities.
The recoveries and arrests coincide with growing worries about "one chance" robberies and auto theft in Abuja, where residents have repeatedly called for stronger security measures.
The Nigeria Police Force has, in recent months, intensified intelligence-led operations and patrols across the FCT to curb the activities of criminal syndicates targeting motorists and commuters.