By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of twelve suspected armed robbers allegedly responsible for the tragic death of an Arise Television staff member and several violent robberies across Abuja and neighboring states.
The suspects were apprehended after a coordinated intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, following weeks of surveillance and tracking. The gang, police sources say, had terrorized residents through a string of violent robberies, car snatching, and house invasions within Abuja and its environs.
The arrested suspects include: Shamsudeen Hassan, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State; Abubakar Alkamu (a.k.a. Abba), 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina State; Sani Sirajo (a.k.a. Dan Borume), 20, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Mashkur Jamili (a.k.a. Abba), 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State; Suleiman Badamasi (a.k.a. Dan-Sule), 21, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Abdulsalam Saleh (a.k.a. Na-Durudu), from Katsina LGA, Katsina State; Zaharadeen Muhammad (a.k.a. Gwaska), 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State; Musa Adamu (a.k.a. Musa Hassan), 30, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Sumayya Mohammed (a.k.a. Baby), 27, from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State; Isah Abdulrahman (a.k.a. Abbati), 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; and Musa Umar (a.k.a. Small), 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects are members of a coordinated criminal network that has been responsible for numerous violent robberies in the capital. During one of their recent operations, the gang reportedly invaded a residential area in Abuja, causing panic and chaos among occupants.
It was during this particular incident that a female staff member of Arise Television lost her life after she jumped from her apartment in fear and panic as the robbers broke into the building. She was said to have sustained fatal injuries from the fall, a tragedy that sparked public outrage and renewed calls for tighter security in the Federal Capital Territory.
A recap of the case shows that the incident drew wide condemnation from the Nigerian media community and civil society organizations, which demanded justice and swift action to bring the perpetrators to book. The police, responding to public pressure, intensified their intelligence operations which eventually led to the arrest of the 12 suspects.
Items recovered from them include several locally fabricated firearms, ammunition, dangerous weapons, and stolen valuables. Police sources confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional members of the gang still at large.
The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command commended the operatives for their professionalism and resilience, assuring residents that the police remain committed to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring safety across the territory.
