Abuja traffic robbers recruiting minors, paying them ₦500 to distract motorists – Police

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command in Nigeria has expressed alarm over the growing trend of minors being recruited by criminal gangs to carry out traffic robberies in Abuja. Police sources revealed that these gangs pay the children as little as ₦500 to distract motorists while adult members steal valuables from vehicles.

Speaking at a meeting with residents, the FCT Commissioner of Police explained that the children, often disguised as beggars, approach cars to divert the attention of drivers, allowing other gang members to rob the vehicles. The youngsters are instructed to stop the vehicle or appear as if they require assistance, creating a distraction. After the theft, the children are rewarded with between ₦500 and ₦1,000 for their efforts.

Commissioner of Police disclosed that some of the children involved in these crimes have been brought into Abuja from other states and abandoned for the purpose of committing crimes. He alleged that a woman had her ear torn during an attempt to steal her earring, as gang members forcibly removed it. The police stated that many of these children cannot be prosecuted like adults due to their age. Instead, they are being transferred to social welfare authorities for rehabilitation and reunification with their families.

The police are also working to gather intelligence from these children, offering them ₦1,000 or ₦500 to provide information about the adults directing the criminal activities. They emphasized that while the allegations are under investigation, the focus should be on protecting and rehabilitating the children rather than labeling them as criminals. The warning comes as traffic-related robberies and child exploitation become increasingly prevalent concerns in parts of the FCT.