Operatives
of Federal Capital Territory Police Command have rescued five kidnapped victims in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
In a statement issued to newsmen on Monday by the FCT Police
Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Commissioner of Police,
Haruna Garba was quoted as saying:
“On 27/01/2024 at about 11:30 pm, a distress call was received at Iddo
Division that, sounds of gunshot were heard around Sabon Lugbe axis. A police
patrol team was drafted to the scene where one Blessing Eze ‘F’ was met with a
bullet wound on her shoulder inside a Toyota Corolla car with RSH 724 KC,
black. The said blessing explained that she and her husband one Joshua Eze were
returning home when some hoodlums in unknown vehicles double-crossed them,
fired guns at their vehicle, and abducted her husband to unknown destination.
“In response, IGHP Special Intervention Squad (SIS), police
anti-kidnapping unit of the command, and other tactical sections swung into
action. The victim was rescued unhurt at Kuje Forest on 28/01/2024 at about
06:20 pm.
“In a related development, on 28/01/2024 at about 05:30 am, one
Peter Ede in company of one Thankgod Ogunyi all males of Piwoyi Lugbe reported
at Karmo Division that, on same date at about 01:50 am while praying at Idu
Gbagyi mountain Karmo, some criminal elements numbering about seven armed with
guns and cutlasses attacked them and abducted three (3) of their members to
unknown destination.
“On receipt of the report, police operatives from
Karmo Division led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Abaya Haruna swiftly
mobilized to the scene, combed the surrounding bushes and hills between Karmo
to Gwagwa. Engaged the hoodlums in a serious gun duel. The three (3) victims
namely one Igbodi Emeka ‘M’, Precious Uche ‘F’, and Eric Chukwudi ‘M’ were
rescued unhurt. I wish to inform the general public that several heinous crimes
have been prevented by the police Command without people knowing.
“The FCT Police Command is always committed and willing to work
with you (residents of the FCT) to defeat crime and criminality in all its
forms in the Federal Capital Territory. What we need most is your understanding
and cooperation. Our emergency numbers are out on public domains for prompt
reporting of any suspicious activities.”
Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Capital Territory
Administration (FCTA) on Monday took the war against insecurity in the nation’s
capital to another dimension as they thoroughly combed drainage tunnels, under
bridges, green areas, and parks within the city centre.
The over five hours operation witnessed some arrests of
criminals who specialised in drug peddling as well as attacking and robbing
residents of their valuables in some notorious flash-points which include the
Yar’adua Centre/National Mosque triangle.
The task force team raided the stretch between Finance to Women
Affairs tunnels around Court of Appeal as well as all tunnels in the Millennium
Park.
It also combed tunnels and Green areas beside Abia House
connecting to River Plate Park through to National Mosque and Yar’Adua centre.
Other areas are Chescon Park, Maitama, and Scavengers Den behind
Abia House.
While three were arrested, many of the criminals, took to their
heels to escape arrest on sighting officials of the joint task force who raided
every suspected hideout in the green areas.
Speaking after the operation, the Director, FCT Department of
Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima who led the joint taskforce said the raid
had become necessary following complaints from residents over misuse of subways
and under bridges by criminals who attack and dispossess innocent residents of
their belongings at will.
He explained that the FCT minister, Nyesome Wike had directed
the JTF to take necessary action to rid the territory of these criminal
elements and ensure the safety of residents.
“We have received complaints from residents in the city
regarding the misuse and abuse of the subways and under bridges. So, the
honourable FCT Minister directed that we should take necessary action, and
today we are on a fact-finding mission, to know what is really happening under
the bridges and subways.
“From today, we can come out with our plan of action on the next
step to be taken. With what we have seen today, it is really unfortunate that
these things are happening in the city, where informal activities are taking
place under the bridges and subways, as well as people of questionable
characters are living there.
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“We have to step up our action on combing and
monitoring these facilities and activities taken place there”.
On his part, the Secretary Command and Control, FCT Security
Services Department, Peter Olumuji said the team was disturbed by the enormity
of the threat the challenge poses not only to residents but the entire city as
a whole if not immediately addressed.
“That is why we have decided to come and profile the canals and
bridges within the capital cities and what we have seen is so disturbing.
“Residents of the capital city have been raising concern on how
whenever they transverse these locations especially where you have bridges,
they complain about how criminal elements coming out from the bushes, snatching
their phone and bags, robbing them of their valuables even in their cars when
they don’t wind up.
“Immediately they do this, they run into the bridges to
hibernate. Naturally, you don’t expect the victims to run after them because
you don’t know what you will see in the tunnels. That is why we have decided to
come and profile the canals and bridges within the capital cities and what we
have seen is so disturbing.
“We made three arrest under the bridges today and
these arrests concerns more of drug related issues and we have handed them over
to the NDLEA for further investigation and profiling”.
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