The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested no fewer than 160 suspects in connection with various crimes recorded between October and December 2025, while nine armed criminals were neutralised during gun battles with police operatives.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja, where he presented the scorecard of the command since assuming office in October 2025.
Dantawaye said a total of 300 cases were reported during the period under review, spanning offences such as kidnapping, armed robbery, “one-chance” robbery, car theft, drug-related crimes, cultism, homicide and cyber-related fraud.
He described the FCT as a strategic national asset that attracts people from different backgrounds, including criminal elements, due to its political, diplomatic and economic importance.
“Since my assumption of duty, the command conducted a comprehensive review of the security situation across the six area councils of the FCT. This assessment identified key crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, one-chance robbery, car theft, drug offences and other minor crimes,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the command adopted an intelligence-driven policing strategy in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, focusing on hotspot mapping, crime analysis, inter-agency collaboration, enhanced visibility policing and sustained community engagement.
Providing a breakdown of arrests, Dantawaye said seven kidnapping cases were recorded during the period, leading to the arrest of 41 suspects.
He added that 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.
The commissioner said 62 armed robbery cases were also recorded, resulting in the arrest of 38 suspects, while 26 cases of “one-chance” robbery led to the arrest of 12 suspects.
“In addition, 35 cases of car theft and vehicle snatching were recorded. Eleven suspects were arrested and 20 stolen vehicles were recovered within and outside the FCT,” he said.
Dantawaye disclosed that arrests were also made in cases involving homicide, cultism, illegal possession of firearms, drug-related offences, cybercrime and other violent crimes, with 120 suspects apprehended across these categories.
On rescue operations, the commissioner said 24 victims of kidnapping, including women and children, were rescued from criminal hideouts and forest locations within and around the FCT.
Read also:
- Jokers in Power!
- CPPE boss makes case for manufacturing firms over sector’s challenges
- Buhari Launches N62B HIV Trust Fund, Targets Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission by 2030
He added that eight victims of one-chance robbery and other violent crimes were also rescued following prompt police intervention.
The CP said the command charged 96 suspects to court during the period under review, securing 60 convictions, while other cases were still at various stages of prosecution.
“The cases charged include kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide, fraud-related offences, cultism, burglary and other serious crimes,” he said, adding that disciplinary cases involving police personnel were also handled in line with existing regulations.
Dantawaye revealed that the command recorded significant recoveries, including 21 AK-47 rifles, 10 shotguns, one K2 rifle, 37 locally made pistols and 31 locally fabricated firearms.
Other items recovered include four magazines, 1,700 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres, knives, cutlasses, scaffold rods, phones, ATM cards, ID cards, counterfeit stamps and boarding tickets.
He added that 86 bags of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, four digital scales, a large quantity of illicit drugs and 131 armoured cables recovered from a tinted vehicle were also seized.
According to him, 14 vehicles linked to kidnapping, armed robbery, car theft and one-chance robbery were recovered, while cash amounting to N15.45m, believed to be proceeds of crime, was also recovered.
The commissioner said nine armed suspects were neutralised during gun duels with police operatives while attempting to escape arrest or abduct victims.
He, however, noted with sadness that six police officers lost their lives in the line of duty during the period.
“It is with deep respect that the command records that six police officers paid the supreme price in the line of duty. Their sacrifices remain a solemn reminder of the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the protection of lives and property,” he said.
Looking ahead, Dantawaye said the command would intensify community policing, deepen intelligence-led operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and expand public enlightenment campaigns to address emerging security challenges.
He urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information, and encouraged them to use the command’s emergency contact numbers to report suspicious activities.
