FCT Foils Bank Robbery: Policeman Dies, Two Suspects Killed, Three Others Arrested

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Police Command on Friday announced that its officers and men, in a joint operation with the military foiled a bank robbery incident.

It stated that the police team was led by the FCT commissioner of police, Benneth Igweh, during which some suspects were shot dead while others sustained injuries, with arrests made.

A statement by Josephine Adeh,  Police Public Relations Officer of the command explained that “In swift response to an armed robbery incident at first bank PLC in Abaji on June 13, 2024, at about 5:00 PM, the FCT police, led by the commissioner of police, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, himself, in a combined operation with the military, mobilized to scene and repelled the attack.

“The attack was simultaneously carried out on both Abaji Divisional Police headquarters and first bank PLC in Abaji  by a group of fifteen armed men who attacked with dynamites in attempt to rob the bank.

“The security forces engaged the armed robbers in an intense gun duel, forcing them to scamper to safety with various degrees of bullet wounds.

“The security forces succeeded in apprehending three suspects, namely, Usman (surname yet unknown), who was reported to be the gang leader, Nuhu Musa, 41 ‘m’ of Kogi State; and Muhammed Aminu, 25 ‘m’ of Abaji, with grave degrees of bullet injuries, while a yet-to-be-identified suspect was set ablaze by an irate mob at the scene after being neutralized by the security forces.

“One police operative and the gang leader hit by bullet during the gun duel, were rushed to the hospital, and the doctor on duty confirmed them dead, while others are still receiving treatment.

“While search operation is ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects with bullet injuries, the commissioner of police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, lauds the effectiveness of the combined operation and reaffirms the command’s unflinching commitment to ensuring that FCT remains inhabitable for criminals, noting that the safety of the residents of FCT is non-negotiable.”