The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has taken 40 suspected members of a criminal syndicate into custody

Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Monday, also defended the beating of some of the suspects in a viral video.

Adeh said a raid was conducted following complaints from three independent sources over activities of a gang in Gishiri village.

The complainants fingered three ex-convicts, Awalu, Balo and Baba Ali as the masterminds, the spokesperson noted.

The suspects were accused of intimidation, attack, assault and robbery, as well as consumption and peddling of illicit drugs.

The gang members were alleged to have on March 30, stabbed 10 residents, brutalised many, and vandalised vehicles in the community.

“They have no regard for elders and leaders…They obstruct policemen or vigilante members from arresting any suspect when the need arises,” Adeh said

On the recorded assault, the PRO said the suspects were violent during arrest and while officers took their statements at the police division in Mabushi.

The statement explained that the personnel “had to apply force in suppressing some of the suspects who revolted after being arrested”.

“The cut-to-suit narrative in the video in circulation was a scene of police officers trying to apply minimum force in restoring order,” she said

Noting that the applied force has amounted to unprofessional conduct, Adeh disclosed “the officers involved have been duly noted for sanction