FCT Police Decimate POS Robbery Syndicate, Recover Weapons in Gwagwalada Operation

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has struck a significant blow against armed criminality in the Gwagwalada Area Council, successfully apprehending a key suspect from a notorious Point of Sale (POS) swapping and armed robbery syndicate. The operation led to the recovery of a locally-made pistol, six POS machines, multiple ATM and SIM cards, and other stolen valuables, restoring a measure of confidence to commercial operators in the area.

Dependable NG reports that the breakthrough began on a complaint lodged by a resident, Kabiru Ahmed of Kasuwan Dare, Gwagwalada. Mr. Ahmed reported to the Gwagwalada Division detectives that two unknown men had executed a sophisticated swap of his Moniepoint POS machine on October 1, 2025, around 2:55 p.m. Such incidents of POS fraud have become increasingly prevalent in the territory, posing a significant threat to small-scale business owners and financial agents.

Acting swiftly on the intelligence provided by the victim, detectives were able to track down and arrest one Abdul Abdullahi, a suspect from Kano State. During a thorough interrogation, Abdul reportedly confessed to his involvement, admitting he was a member of a criminal network notorious for executing POS machine swaps and armed robberies throughout the area council. This admission proved crucial to the ongoing police investigation.

The police operation did not stop with the initial arrest. During subsequent questioning, Abdul Abdullahi named his four male accomplices: Yusuf Abdul, Mustapha Abba, Faruk, and Abu Chibola. The arrested suspect then led police operatives from the Gwagwalada Division to the syndicate’s hideout, a location identified as a compound in Angwan Dodo, Gwagwalada. This operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday, October 6, was intended to neutralize the entire gang.

However, the main members of the robbery crew managed to evade arrest at the last moment. Upon sighting the approaching police operatives, the remaining suspects employed an escape strategy by fleeing through the ceiling and over the roof of the building, disappearing into the dense bush toward a nearby river. Despite the immediate escape of the four primary suspects, the police did secure another arrest at the scene: one female suspect, identified as Rahama Michael. Her role in the larger criminal network is now a central focus of the continuing investigation.

The successful raid of the hideout yielded a significant haul of incriminating evidence, solidifying the charges against the arrested individuals and providing concrete proof of the syndicate’s expansive operations. Items recovered included one fabricated locally-made pistol, a formidable weapon capable of causing harm, along with six stolen POS machines. Furthermore, the police recovered seven ATM cards and a staggering total of 37 SIM cards, indicating the extensive nature of their fraudulent and financial crimes. The inventory of recovered items also listed six wristwatches and one axe, believed to be tools or proceeds of their violent activities.

Following the initial arrests and seizures, the case has been officially transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at the FCT Police Headquarters in Abuja for in-depth analysis and prosecution. The FCT Police Command has reiterated its unwavering commitment to ridding the territory of armed robbery and financial fraud elements. Efforts are currently being intensified, employing advanced intelligence gathering and tactical surveillance, to track down the four fleeing members of the criminal syndicate: Yusuf Abdul, Mustapha Abba, Faruk, and Abu Chibola. The police have called upon the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station to aid in the swift capture of the remaining suspects.