FCT Police Commissioner Gives DPOs Two Weeks to End City Center Crime

The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Sanusi, has issued a stern directive to 17 Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) within the Metro Area Command, demanding the eradication of robbery and associated criminal activities in the city center within a two-week timeframe.

This directive came during a meeting convened to assess the prevailing security landscape and enhance operational strategies across the command. According to a statement released by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the discussions focused on emerging security threats and identified operational gaps within the Metro Area Command. The Commissioner expressed significant concern over the escalating incidents of traffic robbery, armed vehicle snatching, "one-chance" robberies (where criminals pose as passengers), reckless driving, vandalism of public and private property, illegal parking on highways, traffic congestion, and the illicit operations of commercial motorcyclists on major thoroughfares.

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He therefore ordered the DPOs to end these crimes within two weeks or face the consequences.

Commissioner Sanusi explicitly ordered the DPOs to bring these crimes to an end within the stipulated two weeks, warning that failure to comply would result in consequences. He further directed all DPOs and the Area Commander Metro to prioritize security operations within the city center, while he would personally assume responsibility for addressing security challenges in the suburban areas. The Commissioner emphasized that negligence would not be tolerated, instructing the supervising Area Commander to ensure strict adherence to all operational directives and provide effective leadership.

The FCT Police Command also appealed to residents to continue their cooperation by providing timely and credible information to the nearest police division or through the command's emergency hotlines. This directive comes as the FCT Police are intensifying their efforts to combat crime in the capital, particularly robbery and kidnapping. Recent operations include a rescue mission in the Byazhin area on June 9, which freed five kidnapped victims and resulted in the neutralization of two suspects, as well as raids that dismantled bandit hideouts along the Abuja–Niger–Kaduna border, leading to arrests and the destruction of criminal camps.

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The CP stressed that he will not condone negligence, directing the Area Commander Metro who is the supervising officer to provide effective leadership and ensure strict compliance with the directives.