FCT Police Neutralize Robbery Gang Leader, Nab Seven Suspects in Maitama Crackdown
Byline: Zainab Uzoma | IDNN Crime Watch Desk
In a high-stakes tactical raid led by the Scorpion Squad, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has dismantled a notorious armed robbery and car-jacking gang operating across Abuja. The operation, which unfolded in the upscale Maitama area, resulted in the death of the group’s kingpin and the arrest of seven suspects.
According to a statement released by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the gang had been under surveillance following a string of violent robberies and high-end vehicle thefts.
“The gang was planning another heist when operatives intercepted them based on credible intelligence. Upon confrontation, the suspects opened fire. One, Abdulmininu Bello alias Babanle, was neutralized during the gunfight,” she disclosed.
The other seven arrested include:
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Ibrahim Muhammad, 22 (ex-convict, Kebbi State)
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Abubakar Abdullahi, 22 (Plateau State)
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Sarajo Yusuf, 20 (Plateau State)
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Isiaka Adamu (ex-convict, Bauchi State)
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Abdullahi Isah, 18 (escaped detainee, Bauchi State)
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Sanusi Ali, 51 (resident, Kano State)
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Abubakar Sani (Plateau State)
The gang leader, Solomon Bawa aka Pastor Mogu, and one other suspect fled with gunshot wounds. Police are calling on the public to report anyone with suspicious injuries.
Recovered from the suspects were a 2004 Toyota Camry LE, a red Boxer motorcycle, two locally made pistols, four AK-47 rifles, magazines, and live ammunition. A locally fabricated shotgun was also seized.
Inside the Syndicate: WhatsApp Coordination and Domestic Insider Ties
Investigations revealed that the gang operated a covert WhatsApp group where they coordinated hits, sharing information gathered through domestic staff of targeted victims. They specialized in late-night ambushes, posing as Good Samaritans before striking.
The suspects confessed to multiple operations and admitted selling a “Big-for-Nothing” Camry for ₦700,000 and a Lexus SUV for ₦1 million. In a chilling confession, they also claimed responsibility for the 2015 killing of an MTN employee in Kaduna.
CP Commends Bravery, Reaffirms Crackdown on Urban Terror
The FCT Commissioner of Police lauded the operatives for their bravery and precision. He reaffirmed the Command’s zero-tolerance for organized crime and urged Abuja residents to remain vigilant.
“We will continue to dismantle criminal networks threatening peace in the capital. We call on citizens to report suspicious activity using our hotlines,” the statement read.
The suspects remain in custody and will be arraigned following the conclusion of investigations.
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