Police identify crime hotspots, arrest 560 suspects in Abuja raids

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced the arrest of 560 suspects during coordinated raids targeting crime hotspots throughout Abuja over the past week. FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, revealed the figures during a press briefing, emphasizing that the operations were driven by intelligence gathering and community policing efforts.

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The FCT Police Command, through intelligence gathering and community policing, has identified and raided several criminal hotspots across the Federal Capital Territory in the past week.

Sanusi stated that the raids, conducted by various police divisions across the command, focused on identified "black spots" and resulted in the recovery of illicit drugs, arms, and other exhibits. Among the recovered items were a locally fabricated pistol, an AK-47 rifle, and three rounds of 9mm ammunition. The police chief affirmed the command's commitment to ensuring that criminal elements cannot find safe havens within the nation's capital.

In addition to the general raids, the command reported a significant breakthrough in dismantling a six-member kidnapping and "one chance" robbery syndicate. This group is linked to the abduction of a female victim in the Maitama area. Police operatives successfully recovered the full ransom of N8.25 million paid by the victim's family, along with two operational vehicles, a cutlass, seven pairs of AirPods, jewelry, five mobile phones, and a laptop believed to be stolen from previous victims.

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These raid operations were carried out by divisions across the command and resulted in the arrest of 560 suspects and the recovery of illicit drugs, arms and other exhibits.

Investigations revealed that this syndicate had been active since 2024, operating along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road, and other parts of the FCT. They are suspected of extorting approximately N12.8 million from at least five female victims. Further operations led to the arrest of four suspected kidnappers and alleged ammunition suppliers to bandits during clearance operations in Kwali, Abaji, and Kuje Area Councils, where 42 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.

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The achievements we present today reflect the firm stance of the FCT Police Command in ensuring that crime does not thrive within the Federal Capital Territory.