IG’s residence secured against breaches — Force spokesperson

The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday said the residence of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is fortified, safe, and secure against security breaches and criminal occurrences.

The police high command was reacting to a report by an online platform that the residence of the IG was robbed.

However, the police in a statement by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, refuted the report.

Adejobi boasted that the IG residence was structured such that no robber, burglar, or thief could come close to the building.

The statement partly read, “It is pertinent to note that the above are the facts of this matter which have been deliberately distorted by a media platform either at the instance of some of the suspects who are currently fleeing from the law, or those suspects who are lawfully detained or out of mischief, where they alleged that the said robbery occurred at the residence of the Inspector General of Police. We wish to place it on record that the robbery or any burglary or theft never took place in the IGP’s residence or any of the official facilities of the Nigeria Police Force.

“Those purporting the robbery, burglary or theft to have taken place in the residence of the IG do not know what the residence of the IG looks like, otherwise they would have known that no robber, burglar or thief can get close to the residence of the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria and current chairman of the committee of West Africa Chiefs of Police.”

He added that if the report were to be true, many policemen guarding the residence would have been detained.

Adejobi said, “Assuming, in the most unlikely event such robbery, burglary, or theft occurred at the residence of the IGP, we should be talking about the number of policemen in detention and not this ring of armed robbers. For emphasis, the entire neighbourhood of IG residence is fortified, safe, and secure against such security breaches and criminal occurrences. ”

Explaining what transpired, Adejobi said the armed robbery incident happened at a police officer’s residence, on April 28, 2024.

He added that the officer who is attached to the Force Headquarters was nearly killed while a safe containing jewellery, money, academic certificates, documents, phones, and other valuable properties belonging to various residents in the compound were carted away.

Adejobi said, “The Nigeria Police Force has successfully dismantled a cartel dealing in jewellery worth billions of Naira obtained from armed robbery operations in Abuja and its environs.

“On April 28, 2024, an armed robbery incident occurred at the residence of a police officer, attached to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory. During the incident, the officer was nearly smothered, while a secured safe containing jewellery, money, academic certificates, documents, phones, and other valuable properties belonging to various residents in the compound were carted away. CCTV footage captured the suspect at the crime scene, which has been helpful in our forensic investigations in the case so far.”

Adejobi noted that investigations traced the stolen items to Wuse Market, where they were allegedly purchased by one Alhaji Auwal.

He added that over 26 suspects have been arrested in connection with the case and were being detained following a court order.

Adejobi said, “Despite police warnings to the FCT Gold Dealers Association to avoid purchasing the stolen gold via their joint WhatsApp platform, Alhaji Auwal facilitated its purchase and instructed his associates on how to handle it.

“Further investigations by the Force Intelligence Department revealed that Alhaji Auwal, his sons, and other associates are part of a cartel involved in dealing in stolen pieces of jewellery. This group has been linked to previous similar cases under police investigations at various formations within the FCT.

“The 26 suspects arrested in connection with the case and many others, who are currently in custody, are being detained legally under a court order and will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigations, contrary to the news making rounds.”