The Nigeria Police Force has successfully dismantled a cartel involved in trading jewelry worth billions of Naira, obtained through armed robbery operations in Abuja and its surroundings.
According to a statement from the force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an armed robbery incident occurred on April 28, 2024, at the residence of a police officer stationed at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory.
During the incident, the officer was nearly suffocated, and a secured safe containing jewelry, money, academic certificates, documents, phones, and other valuable properties belonging to various residents in the compound were stolen. “CCTV footage captured the suspect at the crime scene, which has been helpful in our forensic investigations in the case so far.”
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Further investigations led to Wuse Market, where the stolen items were allegedly purchased by one Alhaji Auwal. Despite police warnings to the FCT Gold Dealers Association to avoid buying stolen gold through their joint WhatsApp platform, Alhaji Auwal facilitated the purchase and instructed his associates on handling it.
The Force Intelligence Department revealed that Alhaji Auwal, his sons, and other associates are part of a cartel dealing in stolen jewelry. This group has been linked to similar cases under police investigation at various formations within the FCT. Twenty-six suspects have been arrested in connection with this case and others. They are being detained legally under a court order and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, contrary to rumors circulating.
The police refuted claims made by Sahara Reporters that the robbery took place at the residence of the Inspector General of Police. “We wish to place it on record that the robbery or any burglary or theft never took place in the IGP’s residence nor in any of the official facilities of the Nigeria Police Force,” Adejobi clarified.
“Those purporting the robbery, burglary, or theft to have taken place in the residence of the IG obviously do not know how the residence of the IG looks like. Otherwise, they would have known that no robber, burglar, or thief can get close to the residence of the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria and current chairman of the committee of West Africa Chiefs of Police.
Assuming, in the most unlikely event such robbery, burglary, or theft occurred at the residence of the IGP, we should be talking about the number of policemen in detention and not this ring of armed robbers. For emphasis, the entire neighborhood of IG residence is fortified, safe, and secure against such security breaches and criminal occurrences.”
Adejobi reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to ensuring justice and upholding the rule of law, with all suspects being treated according to due process. He appealed to the general public to disregard the falsehoods being spread by the publisher and its agents.
