The Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday, designated 17 areas in the nation’s capital as criminal black-spots.
The areas are Apo-Dutse Panteka; Diplomatic Zone; New PDP Secretariat; Kabusa Panteka; Ajakaita (Tungan-Maje); Abuja-Kaduna Road; Jabi Panteka; Apo-Waru Panteka; Area 1 (Monkey Village) and Durumi Village.
Others are Gwarimpa; Angwan Tivi; Mpape (Mashafa and Shishinpe villages) ;Durumi III (Burukutu Garden); Mabushi (Gishiri Village); Kubwa (by Pipeline and NEPA Road) and Maitama (under the Transcorp Bridge).
The command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh in a statement on Tuesday, said the police identified the black spots during a series of strategic raids.
Adeh added that the daily raids are critical to maintaining law and order in the FCT. The statement partly read, “As part of its unwavering efforts to combat criminal activities and protect public and private infrastructure within the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Police Command has carried out a series of strategic raids targeting identified black spots across the territory. “Why Do Police Carry Out Daily Raids? These proactive operations are aimed at: Preventing Crime: Targeting criminal black-spots to deter and prevent crimes before they occur, ensuring a safer environment for residents.
Protecting Infrastructure: Disrupting activities that lead to the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure such as manhole covers, streetlights, and power cables among others.
“The Command identified and raided the following criminal hideouts across the FCT: Apo-Dutse Panteka; Diplomatic Zone; New PDP Secretariat; Kabusa Panteka; Ajakaita (Tungan-Maje); Abuja-Kaduna Road; Jabi Panteka; Apo-Waru Panteka; Area 1 (Monkey Village); Durumi Village; Gwarimpa; Angwan Tivi; Mpape (Mashafa and Shishinpe villages); Durumi III (Burukutu Garden);Mabushi (Gishiri Village); Kubwa (by Pipeline and NEPA Road) and Maitama (under the Transcorp Bridge). “ Adeh stated that during the daily raids in the listed areas, operatives have 348 suspects for various criminal activities.
“ She also said the command recovered weapons, manholes, and streetlights among others. Adeh stated, “Seizure of 10 trucks loaded with vandalized metals, disrupting the market for stolen items; Recovery of 26 manhole covers and 20 solar/streetlight poles, ensuring the restoration of critical public infrastructure.
“Confiscation of large quantities of AEDC armoured cables, preventing further vandalism, Seizure of substantial quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and assorted hard drugs, reducing drug-related crimes. Recovery of 11 firearms, eliminating dangerous weapons from circulation.”