Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recorded significant security gains between October and December 2025, with the arrest of 160 criminal suspects, rescue of 32 victims, recovery of dangerous weapons, stolen vehicles, and cash linked to criminal activities.
This was disclosed on Thursday by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, psc, during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Abuja, where he presented the Command’s operational scorecard since assuming office in October 2025.
The Police boss described the FCT as Nigeria’s political and diplomatic hub, whose strategic importance attracts people of diverse intentions, including criminal elements seeking to exploit its status. He said a comprehensive review of the security situation across the six Area Councils identified crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, “one-chance” robbery, car theft, drug-related offences, and other violent crimes as key concerns.
He further stated that the Command adopted a focused, intelligence-driven policing strategy in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM. The approach, he said, was anchored on crime analysis, hotspot mapping, strengthened community policing, inter-agency collaboration, enhanced visibility policing, and continuous operational evaluation.
The Command recorded 300 reported cases, leading to the arrest of 160 suspects across various crime categories within the three-month period under review.
According to CP. Dantawaye, Kidnapping incidents stood at seven cases, with 41 suspects arrested, following intelligence-led operations, forest combing exercises, and joint actions with sister security agencies.
He also revealed that armed robbery cases recorded were 62, resulting in the arrest of 38 suspects and the dismantling of several robbery syndicates, with firearms and ammunition recovered.
In addition, he noted that cases of “one-chance” robbery stood at 26, with 12 suspects arrested, while 35 cases of car theft and vehicle snatching led to 11 arrests. A total of 20 stolen vehicles linked to armed robbery, kidnapping, car theft, and “one-chance” operations were recovered within and outside the FCT.
Similarly, the Command also arrested 120 suspects for other offences, including homicide, cultism, drug-related crimes, illegal possession of firearms, cyber-related fraud, and other violent crimes.
CP Dantawaye revealed that 24 kidnapped victims, including women and children, were successfully rescued from criminal hideouts and forest locations. An additional eight victims of “one-chance” robbery and other violent crimes were also rescued through prompt police intervention.
In line with due process, 96 suspects were charged to court during the period, with 60 convictions secured, while other cases are at various stages of prosecution. The offences charged include kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide, fraud, cultism, burglary, and related crimes. He added that disciplinary cases involving police personnel were handled through appropriate internal mechanisms.
The Commissioner disclosed that the Command recovered a wide range of dangerous exhibits, including AK-47 rifles, shotguns, locally made firearms, magazines, knives, cutlasses, live ammunition of various calibres, illicit drugs, counterfeit items, communication devices, and other crime-related materials.
In addition, 14 vehicles linked to criminal activities were recovered, while cash amounting to ₦15.45 million was retrieved from proceeds of kidnapping, armed robbery, fraud, and other crimes.
During high-risk operations, particularly anti-kidnapping and robbery response operations, nine armed suspects were neutralised during gun encounters with police operatives while attempting to evade arrest or endanger lives.
CP Dantawaye paid tribute to six police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty during the period, describing their sacrifice as a reminder of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
CP. Dantawaye assured residents that the Command would continue to intensify community policing engagements, deepen intelligence-led operations, sustain targeted clearance exercises, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and expand public enlightenment efforts, to address emerging security threats.
The Commissioner expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, the Honourable Minister of the FCT, residents of the FCT, sister security agencies, the media, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), civil society groups, vigilante organizations, and other community policing stakeholders for their support.
Residents were encouraged to report emergencies through the following numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, 07057337653.
Complaint Response Unit (CRU): 08107314192
Public Complaint Bureau (PCB): 09022222352.
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