Police arrest mother of two, lover for phone snatching in Abuja, recover 76 SIM cards
The FCT Police Command has arrested Bunmi Samuel, a mother of two, her boyfriend and 12 others for alleged crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery and burglary in the territory.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna Garba, on Thursday, said the suspects were arrested at different locations in the territory.
Mr Garba said various assorted weapons, vehicles, laptops, phones, and musical instruments were recovered from the suspects.
According to him, 36-year-old Ms Samuel was arrested along with her boyfriend, who specialised in snatching GSM phones from innocent commuters.
“After snatching phones, he removes the SIM cards and sells the phone, then hands over the SIM cards to his girlfriend, one Bunmi Samuel.
“The girlfriend, on her part, makes withdrawals of all monies from the accounts that are linked to the SIM cards.
“The police operatives have so far recovered 76 SIM cards, two Opay ATM cards and a golden wristwatch from the suspects,” he said.
He said the police operatives, in collaboration with the vigilante, also arrested five suspects, Bernard Francis, Felix Benjamin, Peter Benjamin, Helen Sylvester, and Hamza Haruna, over alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a minor.
According to him, the police arrested 26-year-old Kennedy Esezobor of Tudun Wada village, Lugbe, FCT, a notorious criminal and cultist with one fabricated single-barrel gun and locally produced AK-47 rifle.
He said the operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit of the command acting on actionable intelligence stormed Kabin Mongoro Forest and arrested one Mohammed Hamza while on his way to bandits camp bordering Nasarawa State.
“The suspect confessed to being an informant, a drug and food supplier to one Dogo,” he said.
Mr Garba said the police, in a swift operation between August 30 and 31, impounded six vehicles bearing both foreign and local plate numbers.
“The modus operandi of these drivers is that they use the vehicle to convey unsuspecting passengers, and midway to their destination, they dispossessed of their handsets and other valuables,” he said.
He said that police also arrested 38-year-old Mustapha Kyari, who specialised in vandalising manholes in the city.
“In a similar development, the operatives of anti-violence crime, while on patrol, arrested the duo of Gabriel Oliver and Emmanuel Ishaku.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Politics
Abia council polls record voter apathy, hitches
The voter turnout was impressive in places where materials came early but low in areas where materials were delivered several hours behind schedule.
Politics
Ondo Guber Poll: Gov Ododo rallies Ebira community for Aiyedatiwa
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi, who led the gathering of Ebira indigenes, said they were impressed with the level of development in the state under Mr Aiyedatiwa.
Sport
Arteta frustrated by Arsenal’s loss at Newcastle
Alexander Isak headed home in the 12th minute in Newcastle’s first win in six league games, leaving Arsenal provisionally third in the Premier League table.
Politics
LG Polls: PDP decries absence of result sheets in Cross River North
He alleged that the ongoing council poll was a sham and programmed to favour the APC.
NationWide
Ohanaeze Ndigbo South-South vows to uphold Iwuanyanwu’s legacies
Mr Iwuanyanwu was buried in his hometown, Atta in Ikeduru council area of Imo, on Saturday.
NationWide
65 Nigerian journalists, two media houses attacked In nine months: IPC
The attacks ranged from harassment, intimidation, and unlawful detention to physical assaults.