The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has uncovered a criminal network involved in the illegal production and use of fake diplomatic and official government number plates, while also recovering large quantities of vandalised public infrastructure from suspected criminals.
Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi disclosed the development on Friday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja, where he highlighted the command’s recent achievements in combating crime across the territory.
According to the police commissioner, the recovered public assets include drainage covers, solar-powered street lights, armoured electricity cables, and internet communication cables stolen from various locations within the FCT.
Sanusi said the recoveries followed intelligence-led operations and proactive anti-crime patrols carried out in Maitama, Garki, Durumi, Jabi, Apo Legislative Quarters, Lugbe, and Nyanya.
He identified five suspects arrested in connection with the recovered items as Godwin Aja, Mustapha Nasiru, Ibrahim Garba, Abdulrasheed Sale, and Dabarani Mujitafa.
Describing the destruction of public infrastructure as economic sabotage, the commissioner warned that such criminal activities continue to endanger residents and disrupt essential public services.
“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 by a few unscrupulous individuals for personal gain has directly contributed to road traffic accidents, injuries to pedestrians, increased incidents of street crime in areas plunged into darkness and the disruption of electricity supply to entire communities through the theft of high-tension power cables,” he said.
Investigation Reveals Fake Number Plate Scheme
Sanusi also issued a strong warning to scrap dealers and other individuals who knowingly purchase stolen public infrastructure, stating that investigations have been expanded to dismantle the entire criminal network responsible for the theft and disposal of public assets.
“I want to use this opportunity to send a clear warning to all purchasers, receivers and dealers in stolen public infrastructure that the FCT Police Command is coming after you. We have commenced extensive investigations and will not relent until every link in the supply, distribution and disposal chain of these stolen public assets is identified and brought to justice,” he said.
He added that all recovered infrastructure would be handed over to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for reinstallation to restore damaged facilities and reduce the risk of accidents.
The police commissioner further announced the recovery of several fake diplomatic and official government number plates allegedly used by criminals to evade security checks and gain unauthorised access to restricted locations.
According to Sanusi, investigations into the illegal number plates commenced shortly after he assumed office following reports of the increasing proliferation and misuse of diplomatic and government registration plates by unauthorised persons.
“Upon my assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, my attention was drawn to the proliferation and unauthorized use of diplomatic and official government licence plate numbers by unauthorized individuals. I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend, which revealed that these individuals use such plate numbers as a cover to perpetrate crimes within the Federal Capital Territory and evade detection and arrest,” he said.
He explained that investigators uncovered not only those using the fake number plates but also the network responsible for producing and supplying them.
“The suspects from whom these plate numbers were recovered are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation,” he said.
Although the manufacturers of the fake number plates operate outside the FCT, Sanusi said investigators have already identified them and are closing in on the suspects.
“We are on their trail. We’ve gotten their identities. That’s why we are not displaying our suspects regarding this so that they will not know that we are coming after them,” he said.
The commissioner also revealed that investigations showed some buyers paid between N500,000 and N1.7 million to obtain the fake diplomatic and official government number plates.
“Some of these things are ranging between N500,000 to N1.7 million for them to procure. This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda to fulfil with it, which they feel is bigger than the cost they are incurring. Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning to use it to perpetrate,” he said.
Sanusi appealed to residents and members of the media to assist security agencies by reporting vehicles displaying suspicious diplomatic registration numbers, noting that authentic diplomatic number plates follow a recognised format.
“They use these fake numbers to beat security checkpoints. They use them to go into ministries and parastatals unstopped because everybody feels once you are a diplomat or have these plates, you are a big man. Help us identify them. Raise an alarm and we will arrest them,” the police commissioner said.
He reaffirmed the FCT Police Command’s commitment to reducing crime across the Federal Capital Territory through intelligence-driven policing and continued collaboration with members of the public.
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