Police reassure Abuja residents after PUNCH exposé 

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has reacted to Saturday PUNCH‘s review of security breaches; kidnappings and killings in the nation’s capital city in the year 2022.

On January 7, 2023, Saturday PUNCH reported that over 69 persons were killed and 152 abducted during 194 attacks carried out by bandits and other criminals in the FCT in 2022, according to data sourced from media reports and a leading indigenous intelligence outfit, Beacon Consulting.

This was just as the FCT Administration promised to improve security for the safety of lives and properties of residents.

Reacting to the report in a short interview with our correspondent, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, rejected the stats in the story but acknowledged that there had been a ‘couple of security breaches’ in the nation’s capital. Nevertheless, she reassured the FCT dwellers that the police were alive to their responsibilities. 

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Adeh said, “It is impossible to confirm a report whose data was not generated by the police, the organisation statutorily saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and properties and by extension bears such record of security breaches.

“However, there were a couple security breaches in the FCT, which were matched with several arrests, the recovery of firearms, and the neutralisation of criminal elements. A balanced report shouldn’t forget to record that. 

“We wish to assure residents that it is not going to be business as usual. A lot has drastically changed with the coming of the new year and the change in administration. 

“The security architecture of the FCT has been reviewed from a new angle making it even more difficult for the successful perpetration of crime. Meanwhile, we urge the members of the public to go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation or harassment from any quarters even as they continue to collaborate with the police by rendering timely and credible information to catalyze the command’s fight against crime and criminality.”