In Abuja, three suspects accused of committing a string of burglary cases and stealing gold as well as other precious belongings have been arrested by the police.
At a media briefing, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer divulged that IRT operatives had apprehended suspects after conducting an extensive investigation.
The fish trader conducting business at the Kado fish market in Abuja was identified as the main suspect during the investigation.
Prior to attacking the fourth residence, Adejobi reported that the suspects had aimed at three other homes in Lugbe.
Using a motor jack, they widened the burglar proof bars of the house after scaling its fence.
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Upon entering, he claimed that they discovered a safe in the residence which they subsequently absconded with. Using a hammer and chisel to forcefully breach it open, money, documents as well as gold were uncovered within its confines.
He said that once the discovery was made, the main suspect got in touch with a buyer to get rid of the goods and ended up making over N60 million by selling them.
Adejobi also conveyed that the IRT had nabbed 16 suspects associated with motorcycle and tricycle thefts and robberies in Plateau. These culprits operated during nocturnal hours, pilfering unguarded tricycles while disguising themselves as police personnel to halt motorcyclists; they employed forged identity cards for seizing their conveyances.
Impersonating law enforcement, the syndicate charged motorcyclists with curfew violations to confiscate their bikes and directed them towards a nearby police station for retrieval. These stolen vehicles were later sold off by a receiving faction within the organization. Authorities have thus far reclaimed eight motorcycles and 11 tricycles from these suspects.
1,284 suspects who have been engaged in criminal activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, homicide and cultism were apprehended by police operatives over a period of six weeks. Among them, 307 individuals were charged with armed robbery while 296 others for committing kidnaps. Similarly, the offenses of murder had resulted in the arrest of 301 accused persons whereas those culpable to sexual assault numbered at around half that figure (176). The remaining culprits comprised mainly offenders linked to illicit religious organizations resulting in arrests numbering up till now only slightly lesser totaling approximately two hundred and four individuals.
During this period, 97 kidnapped victims were rescued by the police who also seized 284 firearms and 6,702 rounds of ammunition with various calibers along with confiscating as many as107 vehicles.
