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.
“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”.
