Authorities in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have announced the arrest of the leader of a notorious armed robbery gang responsible for a string of violent crimes in the FCT and surrounding areas.
The apprehended suspect, identified as Chukwuemeka Oputa, alias “Pounds and Dollar,” was captured on April 4, 2024, around 2 pm.
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Alongside Oputa, three other suspects were also detained: Praise Etta, Rafael Dav, also known as “Raffy,” and Thomas Akange.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday. Adeh revealed that the apprehension of Moses Hassan, a cultist and member of the armed robbery gang from Idda, Kogi State, on February 14, 2024, led to the subsequent capture of Oputa and his associates.
She said; “Investigation subsequently led police operatives to the arrest of three other gang members, namely: Praise Etta, 30 years ‘old, of Etung, Cross River State; Rafael Dav A.K.A. Raffy, 28 years old, of Guma, Benue State; and Thomas Akange, 38 years ‘old, of Markudi, Benue State. All the suspects have since confessed to being involved in a series of armed robberies and other heinous crimes in FCT and are also members of a confraternity cult group called Vikings.
“Several exhibits, such as four (4) locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, three (3) locally made rifles using cartridges, an English pistol, one locally made pistol, a Dane gun, and three (3) AK47 ammunitions, a 5.56mm assault ammunition, and an empty cartridge, were recovered from the suspects.
“While effort is on top gear to recover other exhibits in possession of the suspects, the Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, wishes to reiterate his unflinching commitment to making FCT inhabitable for criminals.”
