By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recorded 62 robbery incidents and recovered 21 AK-47 rifles within three months, as part of intensified security operations aimed at curbing crime in Abuja and its environs.
The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja, where he presented the crime statistics covering October to December 2025.
According to the police commissioner, a total of 300 criminal cases were recorded during the period under review, leading to the arrest of 160 suspects across various crime categories.
He said the 62 robbery cases resulted in the arrest of 41 suspects, while intelligence-led policing and sustained operations also led to the recovery of 21 AK-47 rifles from criminal elements.
CP Dantawaye further revealed that seven kidnapping incidents were recorded within the period, with 41 suspects arrested following coordinated operations targeting kidnapping gangs operating within and around the FCT.
He explained that the success recorded against kidnapping was achieved through forest combing exercises, sustained intelligence gathering and joint operations with sister security agencies.
The commissioner also disclosed that 21 suspects were arrested over “one-chance” robbery incidents, following sustained surveillance, stop-and-search operations and targeted raids across identified hotspots in the capital.
In addition, he said the command recorded 35 cases of car theft and vehicle snatching, leading to the arrest of 11 suspects and the recovery of 20 stolen vehicles within and outside the FCT.
CP Dantawaye added that arrests were also made in cases involving homicide, cultism, fraud, drug-related violent crimes, illegal possession of firearms and cyber-related offences, with a total of 120 suspects apprehended in these categories.
He disclosed that the command successfully rescued 24 kidnapped victims, comprising mainly women and children, from criminal hideouts and forests within and around the FCT.
The commissioner also said eight victims of “one-chance” robbery were rescued following prompt police intervention during the period under review.
Listing items recovered from suspects, CP Dantawaye said exhibits included 21 AK-47 rifles, 10 shotguns, one K2 rifle, 37 locally made pistols, 31 locally fabricated firearms, four magazines, 19 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres and assorted weapons.
Other items recovered, according to him, include 86 bags of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, four digital scales, 106 cut-to-size armoured cables, phones, ATM cards, identity cards, sharp weapons and illicit drugs.
He also disclosed that N15.45 million, believed to be proceeds of kidnapping, armed robbery, fraud and other criminal activities, was recovered during the operations.
The commissioner revealed that nine armed suspects were neutralised during high-risk operations after engaging police operatives in gun duels while attempting to escape or abduct victims.
CP Dantawaye, however, noted with concern that six police officers lost their lives in the line of duty during the period, describing their sacrifice as a reminder of the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the protection of lives and property.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining the fight against crime and commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for their continued support to the command.