The Commissioner of Police at the Federal Capital Territory Command, Benneth Igweh, has ordered a total clampdown of vehicles without number plates or with a single number plate plying the FCT roads.
He also tasked the heads of the tactical units to identify black spots, and possible kidnappers’ dens in the territory and ensure they take the fight to them.
This is as he ordered officers, to embrace intelligence-led policing, visibility policing through constant stop and search duty in the fight against criminality.
Spokesperson of the Command, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement yesterday said the CP gave the order when he met with the management team, leaders of all tactical units and heads of departments of the FCT Police Command comprising Area Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) on Saturday in Abuja.
Igweh noted that the meeting is aimed at revamping the approach of the already existing security framework as well as setting in motion the plan to ensure the safety of residents in the Federal Capital Territory.
He called for the adoption of effective community partnership in policing duties, adding that he would not tolerate laxity.
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.
He appealed to residents to avoid the habit of boarding vehicles along the road and unapproved parks.
*Minister assures of respite soon
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has assured that there will be respite soon, going by the steps taken so far by the FCT Administration.
She assured residents of the territory that the efforts put in place by the FCT Administration to address the issues of insecurity across the territory will soon yield positive results.
The Minister gave this assurance when she paid a sympathy visit to the family of Al-Kadriyar Mansoor, whose daughters were recently released after several days in the kidnappers’ den.
Mahmoud stressed that since the reported cases of kidnapping in recent times, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has been on his feet doing all that is necessary to improve the security situation in the entire FTC.
She said, “I am sure the people of FCT will also bear witness to our collective efforts in tackling insecurity. They have seen how we have been up and doing since this incident of kidnapping and other security matters.
“His Excellency, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has been on his feet. We have been doing all that is necessary to improve our security situation in FCT.
“All the support to be given to the security agencies has been put in place and also some materials and equipment they need to carry out their works are in the process. Also, on the issue of access roads, we think it will also improve the security situation in FCT and the satellite towns.
“I am sure you too have seen that the issue of kidnapping is going down, but we want it at a zero level.”
She also expressed satisfaction with the victims’ state of health, noting that they are in a stable condition.
“We are here today in the house of Mr. Alkadriyar Mansoor, because of the kidnapping of his five female children who have been released with the support of the government and family members.
“So we have come to support the family and to tell them that the FCT Administration is with them. By and large, we are here to see how they are coping psychologically, mentally, and also spiritually. And we thank Almighty Allah for their lives and health because they are in a stable condition.”
In his response, the father of the children who was also a victim, Mr Alkadriyar Mansoor, called on the Minister to extend the same gesture accorded him to other victims.
He called on the FCT Administration to equip the security agencies more, adding that the current equipment used by security agencies cannot measure up with the equipment used by the bandits.
