Police raid Abuja community, arrest 40 suspects

The federal capital territory (FCT ) police command says it apprehended 40 suspected members of a criminal syndicate at the Gishiri village, in Abuja on Sunday.

In a statement on Monday, Josephine Adeh, the police spokesperson, said the command received complaints from three independent sources in the village on the activities of the suspects.

She said the complainants identified some ex-convicts — Awalu, Balo, and Baba Ali, as the leaders of the criminal gang.

Adeh said the operatives, having processed the intelligence, swung into action at about 12:30 am to 2:30 am on April 9, and apprehended the suspects from carefully marked black spots.

She added that the police personnel from Mabushi division had to apply force in suppressing some of the suspects.

The police spokesperson said the suspects were alleged to have been involved in robbery, consumption, and peddling of illicit drugs and also the stabbing of 10 residents in the community.

“They have no regard for elders and leaders of the community, creating a bad image for the community, they have no respect for custom and tradition,” the statement reads.

“They attack and obstruct policemen or vigilante members from arresting any suspect when the need arises.

“While the proportionality of the applied force is in question and has amounted to unprofessional conduct, the officers involved have been duly noted for sanction.

“The commissioner of police, FCT police command, and the leaders of the Gishiri community have commended the division and its leadership for promptly responding to public outcry and restoring order to the community.

“The suspects raided were immediately screened and those with prima facie cases will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigations.

“While round-the-clock surveillance continues in the area to ensure that the restored order is sustained, members of the public are enjoined to disregard contrary and inciting accounts of the incident, remain law-abiding, and report suspicious activities in their neighborhood to the police.

“They can report through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, or through the Public Complaint Bureau on 0902 222 2352.”