The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recorded significant successes in crime prevention and control between October and December 2025, with the arrest of 160 suspects across various criminal categories and the rescue of 32 victims, including women and children.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, psc., disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Abuja, where he presented the police scorecard covering his first three months in office.
CP Dantawaye said following his assumption of duty in October 2025, the Command carried out a comprehensive review of the security situation across the six Area Councils of the FCT. The assessment identified kidnapping, armed robbery, “one-chance” robbery, car theft, drug-related offences and other violent crimes as key security challenges confronting the territory.
According to him, the Command adopted intelligence-driven and community-focused policing strategies in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM. These strategies included crime analysis, hotspot mapping, sustained surveillance, targeted clearance operations, enhanced visibility policing, public enlightenment and strengthened collaboration with sister security agencies.
He revealed that during the period under review, a total of 300 cases were reported, leading to the arrest of 160 suspects across various categories of crime.
Kidnapping incidents recorded during the period stood at seven cases, with 41 suspects arrested. CP Dantawaye said several kidnapping gangs operating within and around the FCT were dismantled through intelligence-led operations, forest combing exercises and joint operations with sister security agencies.
Armed robbery cases recorded during the period stood at 62, resulting in the arrest of 38 suspects. These operations led to the dismantling of several armed robbery syndicates and the recovery of firearms and ammunition.
Cases of “one-chance” robbery recorded during the period stood at 26, with 12 suspects arrested following sustained stop-and-search operations, surveillance and targeted raids.
Car theft and vehicle snatching cases recorded during the period stood at 35, with 11 suspects arrested. The Command also recovered 20 stolen vehicles linked to armed robbery, kidnapping, car theft and “one-chance” robbery operations within and outside the FCT.
The Commissioner further disclosed that arrests were also made in cases of homicide, cultism, drug-related offences, illegal possession of firearms, cyber-related fraud and other violent crimes, with 120 suspects apprehended across these categories.
He said police operatives successfully rescued 24 victims of kidnapping, including women and children, from criminal hideouts and forest locations within and around the FCT. Eight other victims of “one-chance” robbery and violent crimes were also rescued following prompt police intervention.
On prosecution, CP Dantawaye stated that 96 suspects were charged to court during the period under review, out of which 60 convictions were secured, while other cases are at various stages of prosecution. The cases charged include kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide, cultism, fraud-related offences, burglary and other serious crimes. He added that disciplinary cases involving police personnel were also handled through appropriate internal mechanisms in line with extant regulations.
The Command recorded significant recoveries during the period, including 21 AK-47 rifles, 10 shotguns, one K2 rifle, 37 locally made pistols, 31 locally fabricated firearms, four magazines and 1,700 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres. Other items recovered include knives, cutlasses, scaffold rods, mobile phones, ATM and ID cards, counterfeit stamps and boarding tickets, hand saws, iron bars, communication devices and motorcycles.
Also recovered were 86 bags of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, four digital scales, 131 armoured cables concealed in a tinted vehicle and a large quantity of illicit drugs and substances. Fourteen vehicles linked to car theft, armed robbery, kidnapping and “one-chance” robbery cases were recovered within and outside the FCT.
Cash amounting to ₦15.45 million, believed to be proceeds of kidnapping, armed robbery, fraud and other crimes, was also recovered during various operations within the period under review.
CP Dantawaye disclosed that during several high-risk operations, particularly anti-kidnapping and robbery response operations, nine armed suspects were neutralised following gun duels with police operatives while attempting to evade arrest or escape with hostages.
He also announced that six police officers paid the supreme price in the line of duty during the period under review, describing their sacrifice as a solemn reminder of the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the protection of lives and property.
The Commissioner assured residents that the Command would continue to intensify community policing engagements, deepen intelligence-led policing strategies, sustain targeted clearance operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and expand public enlightenment initiatives to address evolving security challenges within the FCT.
He expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, the Honourable Minister of the FCT, residents of the Federal Capital Territory, sister security agencies, the media, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, civil society organisations, vigilante groups and other community policing stakeholders for their support and cooperation.
Residents were encouraged to report emergencies through the FCT Police Command emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883 and 07057337653, while complaints can be lodged through the Complaint Response Unit on 08107314192 or the Public Complaint Bureau on 09022222352.
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