By Deborah Nnamdi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested four suspected members of a one-chance robbery and kidnapping syndicate in Abuja, rescuing two victims in the process.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, announced the arrest in a statement on Sunday, saying the suspects were nabbed following a swift police response to a distress call on October 8, 2025.
According to Adeh, the operation began when one Hajara Ali reported at the Life Camp Police Station that her sister, Comfort Habila, had called in distress, claiming she had been abducted by suspected criminals who demanded ₦1 million ransom for her release.
Police operatives from the Life Camp Division immediately launched an operation using digital and tactical intelligence. The team successfully tracked the suspects to Dape Village and apprehended them around 4:30 a.m. on October 9, after a brief confrontation.
Two victims — Comfort Habila and Aliyu Adams — were rescued during the operation. Adams, who sustained multiple stab wounds inflicted by the suspects, was rushed to Gwarinpa General Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
The suspects were identified as Solomon Tanko, Samuel Audu, Chigozie Joseph, and Emmanuel Chidiebere.
“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives from Life Camp Division immediately swung into action. Through the deployment of digital and tactical intelligence, the suspects were arrested at Dape Village after a near-deadly confrontation with the police,” Adeh said.
Further investigations revealed that the suspects had been involved in a series of one-chance robberies around the Bannex and Kado areas of Abuja, using a tinted vehicle to lure unsuspecting passengers before robbing them of their belongings.
“The suspects confessed to having robbed at least six victims, both men and women, before their arrest,” Adeh added.
Items recovered from the suspects include 15 international passports, two daggers, two cutlasses, bloodstained documents, four mobile phones, two hammers, and three biros.
The police spokesperson said the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
One-chance robbery—a form of crime in which unsuspecting passengers are lured into commercial vehicles operated by criminals—remains a major security challenge in Abuja and other Nigerian cities. Victims are often robbed, assaulted, or kidnapped.
The FCT Police Command reiterated its commitment to combating the menace, assuring residents of continued patrols, surveillance, and intelligence-led operations across the city.
