The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has uncovered a syndicate involved in the production and use of fake diplomatic and official government number plates, while also recovering vandalised public infrastructure stolen from different parts of Abuja.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja.
Sanusi said the command’s intelligence-led operations also led to the recovery of stolen drainage covers, solar-powered street lights, armoured electricity cables and internet communication cables vandalised across the capital city.
According to him, the operations were carried out in Maitama, Garki, Durumi, Jabi, Apo Legislative Quarters, Lugbe and Nyanya, resulting in the arrest of five suspects identified as Godwin Aja, Mustapha Nasiru, Ibrahim Garba, Abdulrasheed Sale and Dabarani Mujitafa.
He described the destruction and theft of public infrastructure as economic sabotage with far-reaching consequences for residents.
“The removal of drainage covers, solar street lights, armoured cables used for the transmission of high-voltage electricity and internet communication cables worth millions of naira has contributed to road accidents, injuries to pedestrians, increased street crime in dark areas and disruption of electricity supply to communities,” Sanusi said.
The commissioner warned scrap dealers and other buyers of stolen government property that the police had expanded investigations to dismantle the entire criminal network responsible for the theft and disposal of public assets.
“I want to send a clear warning to purchasers, receivers and dealers in stolen public infrastructure that the FCT Police Command is coming after you. We will not relent until every link in the supply, distribution and disposal chain is identified and brought to justice,” he said.
Sanusi added that all recovered public infrastructure would be handed over to the Federal Capital Territory Administration for reinstallation to restore damaged facilities and improve public safety.
The police commissioner also revealed that investigations uncovered a network producing fake diplomatic and official government number plates allegedly used by criminals to evade security checks and gain unauthorised access to restricted locations.
He said the investigation was launched shortly after he assumed office following reports of the widespread misuse of diplomatic registration plates by unauthorised individuals.
“My attention was drawn to the proliferation and unauthorised use of diplomatic and official government licence plates. Investigation revealed that these individuals use such plate numbers as cover to perpetrate crimes within the FCT and evade detection and arrest,” he said.
Sanusi disclosed that several suspects found with the fake plates had been arrested and would be charged to court after investigations.
Although the manufacturers of the counterfeit number plates operate outside the FCT, he said investigators had identified them and were closing in on the syndicate.
“We have their identities and we are on their trail,” he said.
The commissioner further revealed that investigations showed buyers paid between ₦500,000 and ₦1.7 million to obtain the fake diplomatic and official number plates.
According to him, the huge sums paid indicated that the suspects intended to use the plates to facilitate serious criminal activities.
He urged residents to report vehicles displaying suspicious diplomatic or official registration numbers, noting that authentic diplomatic number plates follow a recognised format.
“They use these fake numbers to beat security checkpoints and gain access to ministries and other government institutions because people assume they are genuine diplomats. Help us identify them. Raise the alarm and we will arrest them,” Sanusi said.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and called for greater public cooperation to tackle crime and safeguard public assets across the Federal Capital Territory.
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