The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has dealt a significant blow to one chance criminal gangs operating in Abuja, smashing seven gangs and arresting 13 suspects.

The operation, which was part of intensified efforts to combat one chance crimes in the FCT, also resulted in the recovery of 13 operational vehicles and POS machines used by the gangs.

According to FCT Police Commissioner, CP Olatunji Disu, the recovered POS machines were used by the gangs to withdraw money from their victims’ accounts.

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“These people are robbers, the POS machines we recovered, when they carry their victims, they force them to give up their ATM cards and use the cards to withdraw money,” CP Disu explained.

The police also recovered 109 memory cards, which were removed from stolen phones to prevent tracking. Additionally, the police found cloths used to blindfold victims and other dangerous weapons.

The suspects, who were arrested in various parts of the FCT, included Abba Godwin, Abraham Anthony, and Moses Obi. They confessed to targeting commuters during early morning rush hours and earning significant amounts of money from their operations.

In another breakthrough, the police arrested Hyacinth Avetse, a prominent member of a high-profile one chance syndicate. Avetse admitted to joining the syndicate in February 2023 and earning over N1.4 million from their operations.

CP Disu urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, emphasizing that community intelligence is vital in combating crime and ensuring safety in the FCT.