Police operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command have arrested nine suspected armed robbers linked to a residential robbery in Jikwoyi, recovering three vehicles and several items believed to have been stolen during previous operations.
The suspects were arrested following intelligence-led investigations after a robbery incident reported to the Command on January 18, 2026.
Confirming the arrests in a statement issued on Friday, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said the suspects were tracked and apprehended on January 26, 2026, at a hideout in Nasarawa State, where they were allegedly planning another robbery attack in the Asokoro area of Abuja.
“The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained efforts to rid the FCT of criminal elements with the arrest of a notorious armed robbery syndicate and the recovery of stolen vehicles and other exhibits,” Adeh said.
According to her, the suspects were responsible for an attack on a residence in Jikwoyi where valuables were stolen.
“On 18th January 2026, armed robbers broke into a residence in the Jikwoyi area of the FCT and carted away the occupants’ personal belongings, an unspecified sum of money, and a Toyota Corolla vehicle bearing registration number KUJ 549 CW,” she stated.
Adeh said operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad immediately commenced investigations after receiving the report.
“Acting promptly on the report, police operatives attached to the Scorpion Squad began an extensive, intelligence-driven investigation,” she said.
She disclosed that the suspects were arrested while preparing for another operation.
“On 26th January 2026, police operatives trailed and arrested the gang at their hideout in Nasarawa State, where they were hibernating and planning another robbery attack in the Asokoro area of the FCT,” Adeh added.
The police spokesperson identified the suspects as Mohammed Yanusa (21), Abubakar Mohammed (20), Isah Salihu (18), Nura Zakare (20), John Paul Itodo (62), Augustin Daudu (30), Musbau Ali (32), Innocent Omale (44), and Usman Mohammed (22).
Adeh said several items were recovered from the suspects during the operation.
“Items recovered include four television sets, five HP laptops, two Lenovo laptops, one Zinox laptop, one Dell laptop, two generators, two solar batteries, one pumping machine, one DJ mixer machine, four club lights, one speaker, ten bottles of Lambrusco wine, 60 bottles of red wine, one GOtv decoder, one knife, one cooking gas cylinder, one LG home theatre and three vehicles,” she said.
She listed the recovered vehicles as a grey Toyota Camry with registration number MUS 234 CW, an ash-coloured Toyota Corolla with registration number KUJ 549 CW, and an ash-coloured Toyota Camry with registration number MKD 372 AU.
Adeh said the suspects confessed during interrogation that stolen vehicles were sold to buyers outside the FCT.
“In the course of investigations, the suspects revealed that they usually sell stolen vehicles to receivers in Kaduna and Kano states at prices ranging between ₦550,000 and ₦650,000,” she said.
She added that investigations had been widened to apprehend the receivers.
“Investigations are being expanded to arrest the receivers of the stolen vehicles, while the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” Adeh stated.
