Identification of Criminal Hotspots: FCT Metropolis is Safe & Criminality remains at its barest minimum – CP Babaji; Orders Massive Clampdown/arrests of Criminal Scavengers aka ‘Baban Bola’

Aftermath of media reports detailing dangerous and criminal spots where citizens are attacked and the personal effects, cash, etc robbed of them, the FCT Police Command has insisted that the Abuja metropolis is safe and that crime has been brought to its barest minimum.

A statement by the Command said, “The attention of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has been drawn to the erroneous and misleading news making the rounds in some sections of the media, particularly the print media.

“The publication which targeted populated areas, Business hubs, areas with sophisticated security deployments, and other socio-economic importance in the FCT, suggested these areas to hold the highest rate of insecurity.

“This tale is baseless, unfounded, maliciously crafted, and aimed at promulgating panic in the hearts of residents, and to discredit the painstaking effort of the Police in promoting and sustaining the relative peace enjoyed in the mentioned Areas and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) as a whole.

“Consequent upon the above, the Command wishes to categorically refute these publications and to urge members of the public to disregard the same, going about their lawful businesses without the fear of harassment and molestation from any quarters, while banking on the sufficiency of the emplaced security architecture in the said areas and the FCT as a whole. 

“The FCT Commissioner of Police CP Babaji Sunday psc, while registering the unflinching commitment of the Command to the fight against crime and criminality in the Territory, enjoins Critical stakeholders, Religious and Traditional leaders, and Heads of thoughts to maximize their spheres of influence as a platform to preach peace and adherence to the law, In a complementary effort to the Police crusade towards bringing crime and criminality to its barest minimum. 

“In conclusion, the Command urges the good people of the FCT to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrence to the Police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, While the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352,”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP Babaji Sunday, has ordered massive clampdown on rogue scavengers also known as “Baban Bola” in the the FCT. 

The order by the CP follows public outcry on the fast rising menace of vandalism and theft of individual, private and public property including critical national infrastructure by miscreants who hide under the guise of metal waste scavengers. 

The CP noted that Intelligence at the disposal of the Command revealed that the activities of these miscreants now span beyond mere scavenging to the commission of other criminal ventures like stealing, carjacking, house breaking, arms smuggling, drug peddling, amongst other crimes.

Consequent upon the above, the CP has directed Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and heads of Tactical formations in the Command to work with Stakeholders within their various Areas Of Responsibility (AOR) to checkmate the activities of these prevailing criminal enterprise, arrest on sight to bring these rogue scavengers to book. 

The CP equally called for extra vigilance on the part of residents, especially areas with intense activities of scavengers, to cooperate with the Police in riding the FCT of these criminal elements. 

He however enjoined residents not to resort to jungle justice but to arrest and report any rogue scavenger to the nearest Police Station through the following lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.

A statement by DSP Josephine Adeh quotes the CP reassuring residents of the commitment of the Command to ensuring adequate protection of lives and property in the FCT. 

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