By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Police Command have revealed the arrest and recovery of 98 suspected criminals, 38 variety of guns, 379 ammunition and 26 bags of substance suspected to be Indian hemp, arrested and recovered during different operations from January till date.
In particular, the items recovered were 15 AK-47 rifles, 2 pump action action and 21 locally made pistols well as 17 different cars.
Our correspondent reports that only 15 of the total suspected criminals were paraded for alleged crimes ranging from armed robbery, rape, child trafficking among others.
FCT Police Commissioner, Adamu Ciroma, while addressing journalists yesterday also revealed that the command recovered four pairs of military camouflage, 18 bottles of codeine syrup, three packs of diazepam, four packs of exol and 79 cell phones in the course of anti-crime operations.
Ciroma disclosed that on February 25, 2020, the Police also caught up with some human trafficking kingpins who had illegally given out for adoption 48 children from Bwacha community in Lapai Local Government of Niger State. While in Tunga Maje in FCT, the Command recovered 21 children from an illegal home. Most of these children, the Police Commissioner said have been reunited with their families
He said some kidnap suspects were arrested following a report of of their activities along FCT -Kogi boundary where the victimes were held hostage in Ankpa, Kogi State where the family of the victimes were forced to pay N1 million ransom. He said the king pins were arrested in their hideout in Gwagwalada, FCT.
He further explained that on March 7th, his men on a stop and search operation along Abuja Lokoja road intercepted a catche of arms and ammunition stashed in a Volkswagen Golf 3 car.
He equally stated that some experts in fake vehicle particulars and number plates were nabbed on March 4th with several documents, adding that investigations have revealed the fake particulars and number plates are issued to inspecting members of the public at prices ranging from N9,000 to N10,000.
According to him, his officers and men are already on duty and that there would be no hidding place for criminals in the FCT, as the command would not relent on ensuring that crime was nipped in the bud and black spots identified as hibernating points for criminals are promptly dislodged.
He therefore called on stakeholders, community leaders, religious leaders and residents of Abuja to “Come on Board,” support the Police and rise against criminals and make the FCT safe.
He adds: “While the Command suataines it’s offensive onslaught on criminals, leading to the arrest of many, Others who cannot withstand the heat have been forced to relocate out of the FCT.
“All communities in FCT must rise up against criminals by exposing their activities to the Police.”
