Eight Held as Police Smash Robbery Gang in Abuja

Matilda Omonaiye/

Eight suspected armed robbers and receivers of stolen goods have been held by the police in Abuja.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the suspects were arrested after the theft of two cars from a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to the police, there have been reports of several burglaries and car snatching involving the suspects around Apo and Mabushi areas of Abuja, before the raid of the home of the NNPC staff, Mr Nasir Yusuf.

Two vehicles allegedly stolen from Yusuf were identified as a Mercedes Benz E350 with chasis number WDBUF87X78B193442, and Ford Escape Jeep 2.0 with Chasis number 1FMCUOG9XDUC00691, along with other expensive valuables and gadgets in the house.

The suspects arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) included the receivers of the stolen vehicles who were allegedly moving cars stolen in Nigeria to Niger Republic.

The suspects arrested were identified as: 37-year-old Felix iheanacho (gang leader), Emmanuel Manase, 29, second in command, Daniel Talumun, 26, Ibrahim Musa, 32, Tayo Oyemaki, 24, Promise Ruben, 25, alleged transborder car dealer and stolen car receiver in Abuja – Danjuma Mustapha, 29, and Katsina-based Mustapha Labaran, 42, who allegedly specialized in conveying stolen cars from Nigeria to Niger Republic.

The police also recovered three TV sets and other items from the gang.