CP orders clampdown on unregistered vehicles in Abuja

.Security expert seeks establishment of arms control agency

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Benneth Igweh, has ordered a clampdown on unregistered vehicles, following growing cases of insecurity in the capital city.

He gave the order during a meeting with the leaders of all tactical units and Heads of Departments of the FCT Police Command, comprising Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).

The meeting was aimed at revamping the approach of the already existing security framework and setting in motion a plan to ensure the safety of residents in the FCT.

Spokesperson for the command, Josephine Adeh, who disclosed this to newsmen, noted that the CP, while addressing the officers, urged them to embrace intelligence-led and visibility policing, through constant stop and search duties.

He emphasised the need to adopt effective community partnership in the discharge of their duties, saying he has zero tolerance for laxity.

He also tasked the heads of tactical units to identify black spots, possible kidnappers’ dens in the territory, and ensure they take the fight to them. He further ordered a total clampdown on vehicles without number plates or with a single number plate.

Adeh said: “CP Igweh reiterated his readiness to combat criminality in the territory, as he called on residents to collaborate with the police in the fight against crime, avoid boarding vehicles along the road and unapproved parks.

“He urged residents to report suspicious activities through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653; 08028940883, and 09022222352.”

Meanwhile, a security specialist, Matthew Ibadin, has called for the establishment of what he described as Arms Control and Licensing Authority to deescalate increasing circulation of small arms and light weapons in the country.

In a statement in Lagos, the Badison Security Chief Executive Officer noted that kidnapping of citizens in the last nine years has become rampant with an increased frequency and intensity of such abductions across the country in the last two months, especially in the FCT.

According to him, the Federal Government, through an Act of the National Assembly, should establish an Arms Control and Licensing Authority to be in charge of documenting all illegal arms intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service or those recovered from unauthorised persons, the army, police and other security agencies.

He said: “All arms collected or seized from criminals should be in the custody of the Arms Control Agency and Authority, with a view to ascertaining at any point in time the number of illegal arms recovered from various parts of the country.

“The Arms Control and Licensing Authority would be saddled with the responsibility of also conducting a total audit of all weapons in the custody of the military, the police and all other arms bearing security agencies on behalf of the government, so as to ensure accountability and global best practices on arms management.

“It should be headed by a civilian security expert who can carry out due diligence without fear or favour”

While commending various security agencies, particularly the military and the police, for doing their best, he pointed out that a lot more is expected from them.