The usually quiet Dape Village on the outskirts of Abuja erupted into chaos in the early hours of October 9, 2025, as a police tactical team from the Life Camp Division stormed the area to rescue two victims held by a notorious one-chance robbery gang.
For hours, the operation unfolded like a thriller. Acting on a distress call from one of the victims, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command tracked the suspects’ movements through digital and tactical intelligence. By dawn, four men were in custody — and two terrified victims were safe.
According to the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the incident began the previous night, around 10:09 p.m., when a distressed woman called the Life Camp Police Station. Her trembling voice revealed she had been abducted by criminals demanding a ₦1 million ransom for her release.
Within minutes of receiving the report, police officers were mobilized. The Command’s response was swift and strategic — combining technology with field surveillance to locate the criminals’ hideout.
At about 4:30 a.m., the police team traced the suspects to Dape Village. What followed was a tense confrontation that could easily have turned deadly. In the end, the officers subdued the suspects and freed their captives without further casualties.
One of the rescued victims, however, sustained multiple stab wounds during the ordeal. He was immediately rushed to Gwarinpa General Hospital, where doctors are battling to stabilize his condition.
The police identified the arrested suspects as Solomon Tanko, Samuel Audu, Chigozie Joseph, and Emmanuel Chidiebere — all male and reportedly residents of different parts of Abuja. Investigators say the gang had been operating in the city for weeks, targeting passengers along the busy Bannex and Kado corridors.
Their method was simple but effective. They drove a vehicle with tinted windows, pretending to be ordinary commercial operators. Unsuspecting commuters who boarded were suddenly attacked, robbed, and in some cases, assaulted or threatened with weapons.
Police sources revealed that before their arrest, the gang had already robbed at least six victims, both men and women, in separate attacks. Many of their victims reportedly lost valuable items and identification documents during the encounters.
When police searched the suspects’ vehicle and hideout, the discoveries were chilling. Recovered items included 15 international passports, two sharp daggers, two cutlasses, bloodstained documents, four mobile phones, two hammers, and even three biros used to force victims to sign away belongings or disclose personal information.
“These men were highly organized,” a senior officer at the Life Camp Division remarked. “They blended in like regular taxi operators, but once you entered the vehicle, it became a trap.”
The Command has since confirmed that all four suspects are in custody and that a comprehensive investigation is underway. Police say they intend to trace other possible victims and link the group to related cases of robbery reported in recent months.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, has praised the Life Camp Divisional Police team for what he called “a professional and timely rescue operation.” He noted that quick response and coordination were crucial in saving the victims’ lives.
In his statement, the Commissioner urged residents of the FCT to remain vigilant, avoid unmarked or tinted vehicles, and report suspicious activities immediately. “Trust the police,” he said. “When you report promptly, we can act fast and save lives.”
Members of the public are encouraged to contact the police through emergency numbers 08032003913, 08028940883, or the FCT Complaint Response Unit (CRU) via 08107314192 for swift intervention in emergencies.
