Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested a four-man suspected “one chance” gang in the Wuye area of Abuja.
The operation, according to available information, was carried out by operatives of the Wuye Divisional Headquarters.
They were said to have rescued a victim and recovered N200,000 from the suspects on the spot on August 30.
The spokesperson of the Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the development on Thursday in a statement.
Adeh noted that the suspects: Monday James (male), Ubeh Peter (male), Precious Ofili (female) and Rita Nkemjika (female), who have all been on the police watchlist, have been linked to masterminding and perpetrating series of vehicular robberies, popularly known as One chance, and a related fraudulent crime known as 419, particularly in the Wuye axis and environs.
The statement said: “Investigations revealed that on the said date (August 30) about 11:30 am, an unsuspecting innocent resident, unfortunately, walked into their sneer. The suspects having perfectly executed their criminal enterprise, forcefully pushed the female victim out of a fast-moving car and sped off.
“The surveillance team of the Wuye division, who were on routine patrol, with the help of residents rushed to her aid and chased the criminals. The Police, however, tactically effected the arrest of the suspects but the pressure from the irate crowd resulted in the burning of the operational vehicle of the suspects before the police could move it down to the station.
“During interrogation, the suspects revealed to the police their modus operandi, stating that they have been in the criminal venture for over five years.
“To ensure that members of the public are aware of the existence and activities of these criminal elements, it is important to expose their age-long modus operandi as follows; An unsuspecting passenger is first picked along the road. The passenger is then physically evaluated to see if valuables could be collected, otherwise, they harsh a plan B to play on the greed and innocence of the victim by saying a huge amount of money is in the boot and needs spiritual intervention for cleansing. The suspect is promised part of the money only if he or she can provide enough money to secure the services of a spiritualist. To believe this is falling victim to the miscreants.”