Abia Tricycle Union Nab Two Suspected Robbery Syndicate
The Surveillance Team of the Abia State Tricycle Operators Union (ASTOPU) has apprehended two suspected criminals believed to be behind a series of armed robberies carried out using tricycles, commonly known as keke napep, in Aba.
The suspects—Friday Onwuka, 40, from Abiriba in Abia State, and Victor Ogodo, 25, from Nchakacha Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State—were arrested on May 14, 2025, at Immaculate Junction, Aba, after weeks of surveillance.
According to an official statement from ASTOPU, the duo had been on the union’s watchlist following multiple robbery reports linked to a tricycle bearing a distinct security identification number registered under the union.
The crime spree reportedly began on May 1, 2025, when the suspects allegedly robbed a female passenger, Mrs. Christiana Paulinus, at gunpoint near Brass Junction, Aba. A native of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Paulinus was dispossessed of her Redmi 13C smartphone, ₦500,000 in cash, an ATM card, and other valuables before being forcibly pushed out of the moving tricycle.
Later in the day, the suspects allegedly targeted Mr. John Chigbu at Afule, Aba, robbing him of his Itel P36 phone. Unbeknownst to them, Mr. Chigbu is an executive member of the union and Unit Chairman of a tricycle pit at Umuimo Road. The suspects reportedly used his SIM card to transfer ₦40,000 from his bank account.
Eyewitnesses in both incidents helped capture critical evidence—one by noting the vehicle’s security ID number and another by recording the crime on video. These details enabled ASTOPU’s surveillance network to track the suspects’ movements over the following days.
Upon their arrest, the suspects were promptly handed over to the Anti-Robbery Squad. Following preliminary investigations, they were arraigned in court and have since been remanded in custody, pending further legal proceedings.
Commending the swift action of the surveillance team, Comrade Victor Azubuike, ASTOPU’s President, urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious tricycle-related activity through the union’s dedicated security hotline.
“This arrest shows the effectiveness of our internal security system. We will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our passengers and the integrity of our union,” he said.
Abia Tricycle Union Nab Two Suspected Robbery Syndicate is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
