Police reveal new tricks of traffic robbers in Abuja

The FCT Police Command in Abuja has disclosed that criminal gangs frequently employ new tactics to kidnap motorists during traffic congestion. The criminals often recruit young children, sometimes as young as five years old, who are paid as little as ₦500 to distract drivers while adult accomplices steal valuable items from the vehicles.

The police chief explained that these children, typically disguised as beggars, approach vehicles to solicit alms or assistance, thereby drawing the attention of motorists away from the theft. Once distracted, other gang members carry out the theft from the opposite side of the vehicle. The commissioner revealed that after successfully stealing items, the children are rewarded between ₦500 and ₦1,000.

In some cases, the police have discovered children involved in more violent crimes, such as removing a woman's ear to steal her earring. Many of these children are believed to have been transported from other states and abandoned in Abuja for this purpose. Due to their age, the police cannot prosecute these minors in the same way as adults; instead, they are working with social welfare authorities to rehabilitate and reunite them with their families.

The police are also seeking intelligence from some of these children to identify the adults orchestrating the operations. The police chief emphasized the importance of protecting and rehabilitating the children rather than labeling them as criminals. These revelations come as the FCT grapples with increasing reports of traffic-related robberies, child exploitation, and public safety concerns.