FCT Police Smash ‘One-Chance’ Syndicates: 7 Arrested, 13 Vehicles Seized in Aggressive Crackdown

|By Ejalonibu Kolawole-

In a major victory against “one-chance” robbery syndicates terrorizing Abuja and its environs, the FCT Police Command has arrested seven suspects and seized 13 vehicles linked to their criminal operations.

Speaking at a press briefing, Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu outlined the success of intelligence-driven operations that dismantled key elements of these syndicates. Among those apprehended were three core members operating from the Mararaba area: Abba Godwin, Abraham Anthony, and Moses Obi. The arrests came after weeks of surveillance and culminated in the recovery of operational vehicles, including a Green Golf 3 and an Ash-Colored Peugeot 406.

The syndicates, notorious for using tinted vehicles to lure and rob unsuspecting passengers, suffered another blow with the arrest of Moses Steven, Jude Simon, and Terfa Akaaer in a separate operation. These suspects confessed to their roles, including staging elaborate ruses to deceive victims.

A high-profile arrest also saw Hyacinth Avetse, a key member of a larger criminal network, taken into custody. Avetse reportedly amassed over N1.4 million through robberies. Police seized a Green Lexus, a Blue Toyota Corolla, and a trove of items linked to the crimes, including POS machines, laptops, and foreign currency.

CP Disu attributed the success to community collaboration and vowed continued tactical operations throughout the holiday season to safeguard residents. “We remain committed to making Abuja a safer place,” he said, urging the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities.