Six suspects have been taken into custody by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command agents working with the Central Police Station (CPS), and 75 laptops of various makes and models have also been found and recovered from their possession.
The police claimed that the arrests came as a result of a public outcry and the widespread theft of goods from parked cars in open areas near the FCT Central Area.
The five-day-old operation, according to the Police Command, aims to discover specific patterns of these heinous actions’ commission, catch infamous criminals and people who receive stolen property, and recover the stolen items.
A statement on Saturday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, explained: ” So far, the male trio of Akintunde Balogun a 48-year-old resident of Gwagwalada, Mohammed Usuf a 27-year-old resident of Kaduna road, and Shetima Abubakar, a 27 years old male resident of Yangoji areas of the FCT were arrested for theft.
“While Kabir Usman a 37-year-Old male resident of New Nyanya, Nassarawa State, Linus Imo a 35 years Old resident of Airport road, and Praise Chinonso a 40 years old male resident of Bwari area of the FCT were arrested for receiving the Stolen properties.
“The suspects in a voluntary statement, the police said confessed their involvement in the criminal venture.”
DSP Adeh also informed reporters that they will be charged to court at the close of their investigations.
The Command urged members of the general public who have at one point or another reported a missing laptop or tablet to visit the station with tangible proof of ownership in order to be reunited with their recovered personal effects. The Central Police Station is located at the Federal Secretariat Central Area in Abuja.
While asking the public to be aware of their surroundings, especially in public spaces, FCT Commissioner of Police Babaji Sunday underlined the Command’s resolve to ridding the Territory of dishonest individuals.
Additionally, he urged the public to always report lost or stolen property so that the police could monitor criminal patterns and take the necessary countermeasures.
Adeh advised the general public to exercise caution and file complaints as soon as possible.
