The police command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has identified 17 areas as criminal black spots in Abuja.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, who made this known to newsmen this Tuesday in Abuja, said identifying these areas was possible due to the strategic raids they embarked on in these locations.
The areas include Apo-Dutse Panteka, Diplomatic Zone, new PDP Secretariat area, Kabusa Panteka, Ajakaita in Tungan-Maje, Abuja-Kaduna Road, Jabi Panteka, Apo-Waru Panteka, and Area 1 (Monkey Village), Durumi Village, Gwarimpa, Angwan Tivi, Mpape, Durumi III, Mabushi, Kubwa, and Maitama, under the Transcorp Bridge.
According to her, the sustained effort has resulted in the arrest of 348 suspects, with 320 already being prosecuted in courts, and the seizure of 10 trucks loaded with vandalised metals.
She says, “Massive Successes Achieved Through Daily Raids. The sustained efforts of the FCT Police Command have yielded remarkable results, including 348 suspects arrested for various criminal activities and 320 suspects prosecuted and charged to court.”
She also said the command recovered weapons, manholes, and streetlights, among other things.
Adeh stated, “Seizure of 10 trucks loaded with vandalized metals, disrupting the market for stolen items; recovery of 26 manhole covers and 20 solar/streetlight poles, ensuring the restoration of critical public infrastructure.”
She says the operation had also led to the recovery of 26 manhole covers, 20 solar/streetlight poles, and confiscation of large quantities of AEDC armoured cables.
Adeh added that a substantial quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and other assorted hard drugs had also been seized, with 11 firearms recovered since the commencement of the daily raids.
She says the daily raids of the identified hideouts were part of the efforts of the command to combat criminal activities and protect public and private infrastructure in the territory.