FCT Police Storm Hideouts, Launch Crackdown on Criminal Gangs
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has begun an intensive security operation across Abuja and its satellite towns to flush out criminals and restore safety following a rising wave of kidnappings, robberies, and cult-related attacks.
The move, code-named “Operation Safe FCT,” was unveiled by the Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth Igweh, who directed the deployment of tactical teams, anti-kidnapping squads, and intelligence operatives to identified flashpoints and border communities.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the command said the operation is part of a renewed strategy to dismantle criminal hideouts, rescue kidnapped victims, and disrupt illegal arms networks operating in and around the FCT.
“The Command has activated special units for coordinated raids on forested areas, abandoned buildings, and informal settlements that have served as hideouts for criminals. Tactical operations are ongoing in Kuje, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Kwali, and Lugbe,” Adeh stated.
She added that the exercise is being carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure a joint and sustained front against insecurity.
Security sources disclosed that operatives have already made several arrests and recovered weapons from suspects during early-morning raids in parts of Kwali and Gwagwalada, where kidnappers have frequently targeted travellers and rural dwellers.
Residents of the FCT have expressed cautious optimism about the development. A civil servant, Mrs. Nneka Ude, told Global Mirror News that the heightened security presence around major roads has brought a sense of relief.
“For the first time in months, we now see police patrols even at odd hours. We just hope this won’t be a one-off exercise,” she said.
Similarly, transport workers along the Nyanya-Karu axis said the move would discourage highway robbers who often attack commuters during early morning and late-night hours.
Security analysts have, however, advised that the operation should go beyond raids and arrests. According to Dr. Ahmed Musa, a security strategist, long-term safety in the FCT will require improved intelligence sharing, community policing, and socioeconomic interventions to address the root causes of crime.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has urged residents to report suspicious persons or activities via emergency hotlines displayed across police formations in the city. The Command also assured that the exercise would continue until all criminal networks within the FCT are neutralized.
The operation comes amid public concerns over recent kidnappings and bandit attacks in border communities linking Abuja with Niger and Kogi States, areas increasingly used as escape routes by criminals.
Authorities have promised continuous updates as Operation Safe FCT progresses.
