The police command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it received 300 reported criminal cases, leading to the arrest of 160 suspects in the FCT in three months.

The commissioner of police (CP) in charge of the FCT, Miller Dantawaye, said this during a media briefing on Friday in Abuja.

He said the period under review was from October, when he assumed office as the CP in charge of the FCT.

According to him, within the period under review, seven cases of kidnapping were reported and 41 suspects arrested.

Mr Dantawaye said several kidnapping gangs operating within and around the FCT were disrupted through intelligence-led operations, forest combing exercises, and joint operations with sister security agencies.

He said 62 cases of armed robbery were recorded, resulting in the arrest of 38 suspects and the dismantling of several armed robbery syndicates and the recovery of firearms and live ammunition in the period under review.

The CP said 26 cases of “one-chance” robbery were recorded during the period, with 12 suspects arrested, following sustained surveillance, stop-and-search operations, and targeted raids.

According to him, 35 cases of car theft and vehicle snatching were reported, leading to the arrest of 11 suspects.

He said 20 stolen vehicles, comprising vehicles recovered from car theft, armed robbery, kidnapping, and “one-chance” robbery operations, were successfully recovered within and outside the FCT.

The CP said cases of homicide, cultism, drug-related offences, illegal possession of firearms, cyber-related fraud, and other violent crimes were also reported, and 120 suspects were arrested during the period.

He said 21 AK-47 rifles, 10 shotguns, one K2 rifle, 37 locally made pistols, 31 locally fabricated firearms, four magazines, 13 knives, seven cutlasses, two long scaffold rods and seven phones were recovered from the suspects.

The CP said other items recovered were 86 bags of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, four digital scales, and 131 armoured cables.

“Cash amounting to N15.5 million made from various criminal operations within the period, including proceeds of kidnapping, armed robbery, fraud, and other crimes, was recovered.

“Other exhibits recovered include communication devices, motorcycles, dangerous weapons, and other items linked to criminal activities,” he said.

The CP said 24 kidnap victims, including women and children, were successfully rescued from criminal hideouts and forest locations within and around the FCT.

He said eight “one-chance” robbery and other violent crime victims were also rescued following prompt police interventions.

Mr Dantawaye said 96 suspects were charged in court during the period under review, with 60 convictions recorded and others at various stages of prosecution.

The CP said nine suspects were neutralised during several high-risk operations, particularly anti-kidnapping and anti-robbery operations, within the period under review.

He said the suspects were neutralised following gun duels with police operatives while attempting to evade arrest or take hostages.

The CP said six police officers paid the supreme price in the line of duty during the period under review.

“Their sacrifices remain a solemn reminder of the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the protection of lives and property,” he said.

(NAN)