The FCT Police Command has taken decisive action against a group of more than 200 scavengers who have been exploiting their trade to engage in criminal activities, terrorizing residents, and causing significant damage in the last two months.
Authorities have identified the scavengers’ involvement in activities such as robbing manholes and vandalizing cars, leading to heightened concerns about public safety and security in the area.
In a separate operation, the FCT Police Command made a breakthrough in a murder case, leading to the arrest of three suspects linked to the killing of a Bolt Driver, Obasi Okeke.
The victim was discovered with his throat slit, lying in a pool of blood at Ngugu close Area 11, Garki Abuja.
Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Haruna Garba made this known when he hosted the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Adebowale Williams on an operational visit to the command.
CP Garba said “In the last two months, the Command has clamped down on activities of the scavengers otherwise known as ‘Babanbolas’ whose habit is to destroy the critical infrastructures in the FCT.
“Their activities have become a source of concern and threat to the residents of the FCT. They have been involved in theft and destruction of critical infrastructures in the FCT. In the last two months, 212 scavengers have been arrested and arraigned in Court.”
He expressed concern that those arrested were caught red-handed destroying the critical assets in the FCT.
On the killers on the bolt driver, Garba said discreet investigation by the police to ascertain the perpetrators of the dastardly act led to the arrest of the three suspects.
“In the course of the investigation, the police discovered that the deceased was a bolt driver who was called by one of the suspect to convey them to Guzape Area of Abuja.
“On the way to Guzape, the suspects asked the bolt driver to take them to a place to buy Indian hemp. When they returned to their take-off point, they discovered they had no money to pay for their trip.
Related news
- Military Destroys 23 Illegal Oil Refineries, Apprehends 60 Suspected Oil Thieves
- Jamb Forgery: Anambra Gov’t Sends Mmesoma on three-month psychotherapy
The CP said, “They then showed the deceased a fake debit alert on one of their phones claiming they had transfered the money, but the deceased insisted that he had not received any alert.
“In the ensuing argument, one of the suspects brought out a knife, slit the deceased throat, and fled from the scene”.
He said the three suspects had confessed to committing the crime and that they would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
Furthermorw, CP Garba said the command on July 18 arrested three suspects over kidnapping in the Jikowyi area of the FCT.
He said the suspects were arrested following actionable intelligence and with the support of a patriotic individual.
In his remarks, AIG Adebowale Williams said the current security challenges in the country were a bit difficult to end because non-state actors like bandits, insurgents, kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals were carrying out “guerrilla warfare”.
Williams however warned that no matter how hard they try to perpetuate criminalities in the nooks and cranny of the country and continue the non-conventional warfare against the nation, they will be smoked out and smashed in no distant time.
His words, “The duty of the police is to prevent crime. However, where crime occurs it is our duty to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
“The question is how successful are we? Modern day policing in a democratic setting like ours cannot be without its own share of challenges.
“The current challenges are from the activities of non-state actors, bandits and insurgents, kidnappers and armed robbers.
“Evolution in technology has its own share of consequences.
“The modus operandi of these non-state actors which is mostly non-conventional (guerrilla warfare) makes it somewhat difficult to end the menace quickly.
“But one thing is certain, criminals have no hiding place, they will all be smoked out and smashed in no distant time”.
He added that, “there is a need to take advantage of the Police Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), Crime Database Unit, NPF National Cybercrime Section and the NPF Interpol among others to enhance our proactive policing, saying it is time to improve on visibility policing.”
