The FCT police command has captured a notorious armed robbery leader known as Chukwuemeka Oputa, alias Pounds and Dollars, alongside four accomplices.
Oputa, aged 38 and hailing from Imo State, was apprehended on April 4, 2024, following the earlier arrest of another gang member, Moses Hassan, on February 14, 2024.
Confessions from the gang members implicated them in numerous armed robberies and other criminal activities within the FCT, with ties to the Vikings cult group.
Police seized a cache of weapons, including AK47 rifles, pistols, and ammunition.
CP Benneth Igweh, the Commissioner of Police, is steadfast in his commitment to enhancing safety in the FCT through rigorous crackdowns on criminal elements.
See the Police statement below:
FCT COMMAND
FCT POLICE ARRESTS NOTORIOUS ARMED ROBBERY KINGPIN, 4 OTHERS, RECOVERS EXHIBITS.
The operatives of the FCT police command, on April 4, 2024, at about 2:00 PM, arrested one Chukwuemeka Oputa A.K.A. Pounds and Dollar ‘m’, 38 years old, of Umuaka, Njaba, Imo State, and the leader of an armed robbery gang responsible for series of armed robberies and other heinous crimes in FCT.
His arrest is consequent upon the apprehension of one Moses Hassan ‘m’ of Idda, Kogi State, a cultist, and member of the armed robbery gang, on February 14, 2024.
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 AK47 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 FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, wishes to reiterate his unflinching commitment to making FCT inhabitable for criminals. He also urges residents to be vigilant and to always take advantage of the Police emergency lines to report suspicious activities through:
08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192
SP Josephine Adeh, Anipr,
Police Public Relations Officer,
For: The Commissioner of Police, FCT, Abuja.
