Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Police arrest mother of two, lover for phone snatching in Abuja, recover 76 SIM cards

Ms Samuel was arrested along with his boyfriend, who specialised in snatching GSM phones from innocent commuters.

• September 7, 2023
Police officers
Police officers used to illustrate the story [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE]

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

farmers

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

Katsina State

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.”

Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)

Hot news Home top

Revoked Licences: NDIC begins payment to 46 MfBs’ depositors

The Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the banks’ licences for failing to meet regulatory requirements for continued operations.

Scale of justice.

Abuja

Court advises Emeka Ike, Wike’s aide to consider reconciliation in N10 billion suit

The judge consequently adjourned the matter until October 12 for hearing by agreement of all the counsel.

Central Bank of Nigeria Logo

Economy

MPC rate to keep capital market stable, says stockbroker

The committee retained the monetary policy rate (MPR) at 26.5 per cent at the end of its 306th meeting on Tuesday.

Anambra State logo

States

Anambra monarchs join forces with pilgrims board on youth spiritual rebirth

The traditional ruler commended Mr Soludo for his determined fight against fake traditional rulers.

Kano Fire Service truck

States

Father, daughter die in Kano well

Mr Abdullahi said the incident occurred on Tuesday in Yancibi village in the Tsanyawa Local Government Area of the state.