By peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command says it has made significant progress in the fight against crime, arresting 82 suspects and foiling multiple criminal operations between May 1 and June 30, 2025.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that the command’s actions were in line with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun. He said a detailed crime-mapping exercise was conducted across the FCT, leading to the identification of major crime hotspots and the deployment of targeted policing strategies.
According to him, a total of 49 cases were reported during the period under review. These included incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, theft, fraud, child trafficking, and domestic violence. In the case of kidnappings, seven incidents were recorded with 17 suspects arrested and three neutralized during operations.
The police also foiled five kidnapping attempts across locations including Apo Waru, Byhazin, Karshi, Kawo-Bwari, Gidan-Dogo Forest in Kweri, and Abaji. Three suspects were arrested in these cases while another three were killed during a shootout as they attempted to abduct victims near Kawo village clinic in Bwari.
Foiled robbery operations were also reported, particularly in the Apo and Kubwa areas, leading to the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of stolen vehicles, a jackknife, military camouflage, and ammunition. Five cases of armed robbery were recorded with 17 suspects apprehended, while theft-related operations led to nine arrests. Other arrests included one suspect for illegal possession of firearms, four involved in one-chance robbery, one for attempted homicide, and two for fraud. The police also arrested five individuals involved in car theft, including illegal scrap dealers who dismantled and resold stolen vehicles.
Twelve rape cases were reported, resulting in ten arrests, with four cases still under investigation. The command also received two cases of domestic violence and four cases of child trafficking, which led to the arrest of eight suspects. The child trafficking cases were transferred from various divisions to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
The Commissioner revealed that during this period, the command rescued three children from trafficking syndicates and also recovered eight abandoned babies, who were later handed over to the FCT Social Welfare Centre. Ten rape victims were also rescued and provided with support services.
The police recovered an assortment of firearms including AK-47 rifles, LAR rifles, a Barretta pistol, a pump-action shotgun, a locally made pistol, and several rounds of live ammunition. Robbery scenes also yielded weapons such as an axe, a spear, a short knife, and multiple walkie-talkies. In theft-related investigations, exhibits recovered included air-conditioning units, motorcycles, mobile phones, smart devices, ATM cards, chargers, power banks, iron rods, and a generator set. A total of ₦79,000 in cash was also retrieved from a theft suspect.
Ten stolen vehicles were recovered by the Durumi, Kubwa, and Central Police divisions as well as the Anti-One-Chance Squad. Two motorcycles linked to kidnapping cases were also recovered from suspects.
The Commissioner stated that, moving forward, the Command would intensify its community policing efforts, intelligence-driven operations, and public awareness campaigns. He emphasized the importance of targeted clearance operations in identified flashpoints and reiterated the commitment of the Police to maintaining the relative peace in the FCT.
He assured residents that the police would not relent in their mission to combat crime and restore safety in the territory. According to him, the fight against criminal elements would continue with full force, and the Command would remain visible, proactive, and responsive to emerging security challenges.
The Police also called on the public to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity, and cooperate with security agencies to keep Abuja safe for all.
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