The police command in the Federal Capital Territory said it killed 16 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers and also arrested 300 suspects over criminal offences in two months.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT, Olatunji Disu, said this during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mr Disu said the 300 suspects were currently undergoing thorough profiling and screening, adding that those found culpable would be charged to court.

The CP said 59 of the suspects were arrested for armed robbery, 10, kidnapping and informants, 16, cultism, nine neutralised over armed robbery and seven over kidnapping.

He said the suspects were neutralised and arrested during various special operations and raids carried out by operatives from the command.

Mr Disu said the operations were proactive measures by the command to significantly disrupt the activities of criminals operating along some notorious corridors in the FCT.

He said, “In a decisive move against banditry and kidnapping, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command conducted clearance operations in known bandit routes and kidnappers’ hideouts at various locations in the territory. The areas raided are the FCT – Kaduna Border where raid operations were conducted at Gidan-Dogo village and Kweri Forest and FCT – Niger Forest, where clearance operations were executed at Gauraka Forest. Sardauna Forest around FCT – Nasarawa Forest was also raided during the operation.’’

He said the command also deployed specialised tactical teams to raid identified criminal hideouts and black spots across the FCT within the period under review.

Mr Disu said the areas covered during the raid were Dei-Dei, Karu, Gwarinpa, Jikwoyi, Karimo and Maitama.

He said the anti-kidnapping clearance operations were also carried out in villages and communities bordering the FCT.

He stated, “Recognising the evolving tactics of criminal elements, Divisional Police Officers and tactical teams also conducted targeted raids on isolated locations where criminals often lay in wait for unsuspecting victims. Additionally, abandoned buildings across the city, frequently used as hideouts and bases for planning illicit activities, have been identified and will be subject to continuous monitoring and raids.’’

Mr Disu said that 18 AK-47 rifles, 23 AK-47 magazines, two CZ scorpion A1 rifles with magazines, nine English pistols, seven pistol magazines, two Dane guns and 116 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

He said other items recovered were 102 rounds of .9mm live ammunition, seven live cartridges, one expended cartridge shell, seven locally made pistols and four locally made shotguns.

 (NAN)