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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has disclosed that Abuja recorded 300 cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, and other crimes between October and December 2025, leading to the arrest of 160 suspects, rescue of 32 victims, and the deaths of nine armed suspects and six police officers in gun battles.
Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye revealed these figures during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, attributing the crime surge to the city’s status as Nigeria’s political hub, which attracts both law-abiding citizens and criminals from neighboring states like Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, and Nasarawa.
Breaking down the incidents, Dantawaye said kidnapping cases stood at seven, with 41 suspects arrested through intelligence-led operations, forest combing, and joint efforts with other security agencies. Armed robbery recorded 62 cases and 38 arrests, dismantling several syndicates and recovering firearms. “One-chance” robberies numbered 26 with 12 arrests, while car theft and vehicle snatching hit 35 cases, yielding 11 arrests and recovery of 20 vehicles from various crimes.
Additional arrests totaling 120 suspects covered homicide, cultism, drug offenses, illegal firearms possession, cyber fraud, and other violent crimes. Recoveries included N15.45 million in cash, 21 AK-47 rifles, 10 shotguns, one K2 rifle, 37 locally made pistols, 31 fabricated firearms, 1,700 rounds of ammunition, 86 bags of suspected cannabis, 14 vehicles, and other exhibits like counterfeit stamps and ATM cards.
“Since my assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command in October 2025, the Command has undertaken a comprehensive review of the prevailing security situation across the six Area Councils of FCT,” Dantawaye stated. “This assessment identified key issues common to every growing society including kidnapping, armed robbery, ‘one-chance’ robbery, car theft, drug-related offences and other minor crimes.”
He credited successes to directives from Inspector-General of Police Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, emphasising intelligence-driven strategies, hotspot mapping, community policing, and inter-agency collaboration. “These strategies employed during the time under review were built around strengthened community policing engagements, sustained intelligence-led policing, targeted clearance operations, enhanced visibility policing, public enlightenment and strategic communication,” the CP added.
Looking ahead, Dantawaye pledged to intensify these efforts. “Building on the operational gains recorded since my assumption of duty, FCT Police Command will continue to intensify community policing engagements, deepen intelligence-led policing strategies, sustain targeted clearance operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and expand public enlightenment initiatives to address evolving security challenges within the FCT.”
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