Insecurity: Police direct operatives to intensify stop, search operation in FCT

• 24 kidnap victims rescued, gunmen kill man, kidnap family members

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 7 Police Command, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command to “intensify stop and search operation” in the city, ahead of the 2023 election.

Egbetokun gave the directive during his familiarisation visit to the FCT Command, yesterday. He charged them to “intensify stop and search operation devoid of extortion, ensure efficient utilisation of resources, and build confidence.”
 
According to him, “we must reinvigorate stop and search, effectively man black spots and sustain the current tempo in raid of criminal hideouts. Scavenging has been banned within the FCT. We mustn’t allow them to continue to operate.

“Modern policing is intelligence-led, community based and technology-driven. We must, therefore, work harder to enhance our intelligence capacity. We must improve on visibility policing. The recent deployment of newly passed out recruit constables is a big boost in this regard.

“We must sustain strategic partnership with other security agencies and other stakeholders. We must improve traffic control within the FCT. Traffic officers must be on their toes to ensure traffic flows within the FCT. Engage the local communities more in the policing of the communities, work together and in agreement to restore professionalism in the police.”

The AIG said, though there were “pockets of incidents of armed robbery and kidnapping in the recent past, I must commend the effort of the Commissioner of Police FCT and his management team, as well as all officers and men of the FCT Command for several breakthroughs that have been recorded in recent times.

“There have been arrests of notorious kingpins, recoveries of arms and ammunition and rescue of kidnapped victims in the suburbs of the FCT. I note with commendation your strategic partnership with other security agencies within the FCT. This goes to show that you are in tune with reality. The current challenges require a multifaceted approach, and no single agency in the current circumstances can do it all alone.”
 
Egbetokun noted further: “From my experience, policing in the FCT is both challenging and interesting. The interesting part is the way the challenges are being tackled. Policing anywhere is interesting when you are working hard and getting results, when you have men who are well trained, well equipped, well-motivated, when you have resources at your disposal to do your job and when you make sacrifices and people who you are serving appreciate your extra efforts.

“The resources available to us may not be in adequate measures but the good thing is that we have resources and we have hope of getting what we don’t have.”

The AIG commended President Muhammadu Buhari for doing so much for the police, saying: “The Federal Government has supported the police with modern equipment and, recently, increased the salary and allowances of the police.
 
“The Inspector General of police has gone a step further by ensuring that all necessary arrears are being paid. Kits and accouterment are being supplied routinely. The FCT administration recently assisted the Command with 20 brand new operational vehicles fitted with communication gadgets. We must reciprocate this gesture by discharging our duties professionally, responsibly, and by scaling up our service delivery.”

MEANWHILE, gunmen, yesterday, attacked Ushafa community in Bwari Area Council, in the outskirts of Abuja, killing a man and whisking away his family members.
 
The incident, which occurred at around 1:00 a.m., behind LGEA Primary School Ushafa, close to the popular Going-Park, triggered panic in the area.

According to sources, the assailants invaded the area and began shooting for about 30 minutes without intervention from police. The deceased reportedly struggled with the gun-wielding kidnappers before he was killed.
 
The daredevil attackers whisked away the wife and a cousin to an unknown destination. The spokesperson of the FCT command, DSP Josephine Adeh, said: “On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at about 6:00 p.m., the Control Room received a distress call that armed hoodlums stormed Ushafa Village, via the Bwari Area Council of the Territory. The information was relayed to the Bwari Divisional Police headquarters and other security apparatus of the Command around the area, which mobilised tactical and intelligence assets to the scene.

“Upon sighting the officers, the hoodlums took to their heels, having shot one Benjamin Ogundare and abducted the duo of Goodluck Ogundare and Janet Ogundare.
 
“The victim was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a doctor on call. Aggressive manhunt and rescue mission has been launched on the trail of the hoodlums while investigation continues.”

ALSO, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Sadiq Idris Abubakar, disclosed that in compliance with the vision and mission of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, the Command, under his watch, has been able to develop and implement operational policies and strategies targeted at combatting crimes and criminality in the FCT.
 
In view of this, Sadiq said the Command has made modest achievements, which include the “arrest of 18 armed robbers and recovery of 1,159 exhibits, including arms and ammunition of various calibre, motor vehicles and motorcycles, illicit drugs and other harmful weapons. Equally, 24 kidnapped victims have been rescued and reunited with their families.
 
He said: “The FCT Command, under my leadership, is committed to ensuring that the policing ideals of the Inspector General, which has been effectively canvassed by the AIG in charge of Zone 7, are clearly and without doubt exemplified in the Command.”