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James Ojo, Abuja
The last Christmas and New Year witnessed low crime rate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), particularly in the suburbs. This was attributed to the crime mapping strategy designed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the territory, Bala Ciroma.
The strategy was handed over to all the area commands and divisions in the territory for execution with necessary back up logistics and welfare, it was gathered. A source told Daily Sun: “We received marching order from our boss at the FCT Command weeks before the festive period on what to do to keep the peace at the territory and protect life and property.
“The rush to travel out of the city was not as high as before according to intelligence reports, which showed that many people will remain behind, the Commissioner of Police came up with a crime mapping which made policing the city not tedious.”
Officer in charge of Kubwa Police Division, Abayomi, agreed that it Ciroma’s order was responsible for the reduction of crime before, during and after the festive period:
“The credit for the reduction in crime rate within the FCT goes to our boss at the FCT Command. Based on his knowledge of the terrain and understanding of crime dynamics as an intelligence officer of repute, he came up with crime mapping which he asked us to implement, which we did.
“The result of strict adherence to the instructions given was why crime was at its lowest ebb before, during and after the Christmas and New Year festivals.
“The strategy really helped us to combat criminals as the commissioner identified black spots within the FCT where the bad boys used to strike, he did a mapping of these spots and gave us the marching order to provide an all round surveillance which yielded ‘harvest’ for us.”
For the execution of the mapping, it was gathered that all the area commands and divisions were provided with logistics and back up welfare by the commissioner, who ensured that working tools were not in short supply and was always on the trails of patrol teams through radio communications both day and night.
Abayomi again: “I think the accolades should go to the FCT Commissioner. He designed the crime mapping and followed it up with supervision and logistics. He gave the mandate that we should domesticate it in our division and still create rooms for you to use your discretion, there was no too much pressures, we were still free to do our work, the result was a low crime rate in the territory, he deserved to be applauded.”
Under his division, areas mapped out are the Kubwa Expressway from the Tipper Garage, Arab Road, Byhazin junction and NYSC junction where permanent patrol vans were placed for quick response to any distress calls in addition to regular patrol of the major and inner streets.
Before Christmas, he disclosed that a massive raid of cultists in their abode was carried out leafing to many arrest and some at the end of investigations, many were sent to prison:
“Through our intelligence gathering, it was discovered that cultism has moved to the streets of Kubwa and was flourishing. That was why from October till November, we burst several cult groups like the Black Axe, Eiye Confraternity, Stone girls, Junior Vickiing, Seaguls and Arobaga, whatever it means:
“I can reveal to you that not less than 14 of them are now cooling their heels in prison. We also carried out similar raids of hemp dealers and smokers in identified locations and that is why Kubwa is relatively peaceful and I can assured that we shall not relent in patrolling the town and smoking out the bad boys and girls.”
