By Sarah NEGEDU
The police in the Federal Capital Territory has neutralised three members of a notorious armed robbery gang, suspected to have terrorised the Filin-Dabo village of Dei-Dei.
A Wednesday night operation in collaboration with the military and local vigilantes, led to the arrest of three other members of the group and the recovery of weapons including one AK-47 riffle, live rounds of 7.62 ammunition, among other incriminating items.
Spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, ASP Josephine Adeh, in a press statement stated that the operation began with a distress call put across to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Dei-Dei ‘A’ Division on February 12, 2025, at 11:50 PM, reporting an ongoing violent robbery in Filin-Dabo village.
“Responding swiftly, the DPO alerted the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit. They coordinated with operatives from the 102 Battalion, Guards Brigade, the Civilian Joint Task Force, and local vigilante groups to mobilize to the scene.
“Upon spotting the joint security team, the six-member gang attempted to flee into nearby bushes, launching an ambush on the operatives. However, the security personnel responded with superior firepower, engaging the criminals in a fierce exchange.
“Despite their attempts to escape, the suspects were subdued. The suspect who sustained various degrees of bullet wounds were rushed to Kubwa General Hospital where three of them were confirmed dead by medical doctors on duty, while the other three sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.”
Some of the items recovered from the suspects include, “One (1) AK-47 rifle (breech number defaced), three (3) magazines, nineteen (19) live rounds of 7.62 ammunition, two (2) locally made pistols, two (2) knives, one (1) taser, one (1) mobile phone, assorted charms (suspected for fortification), dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.”
She added that the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, while commending the joint forces for their swift and decisive action, stressed that the response sends a strong warning to criminals that crime will not be tolerated in the FCT.
The commissioner also praised the residents of Filin-Dabo village for their cooperation in providing timely intelligence that aided the operation.
He therefore urged the public to remain vigilant and emulate the proactive efforts of the Filin-Dabo community by promptly reporting suspicious activities, adding that security is a collective responsibility and assured residents of the command’s commitment to their safety.
