Officers from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have taken approximately 300 individuals into custody following raids on shantytowns, uncompleted structures, and high-crime locations across the FCT.
The command stated that the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to prevent crime, neutralize criminal networks, and bolster safety and security for residents.
The security sweep was executed on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
Police Public Relations Officer Josephine Adeh disclosed the operation in a statement published Sunday via the Abuja command’s official X account.
Adeh indicated that the suspects are undergoing rigorous screening and profiling, noting that individuals cleared of wrongdoing will be released, while those implicated in criminal activities will be prosecuted in court.
“The operation, carried out across various locations, led to the raid of several identified criminal hideouts, with approximately 300 persons taken into custody for screening. Items recovered during the operation include knives, a toy gun, cannabis and other illicit drugs.
“The suspects are currently undergoing thorough screening and profiling. Those found to have committed offences will be appropriately charged to court in accordance with the law, while persons found to have no case to answer will be released after due screening,” the statement partly read.
Ahmed Sanusi, the command’s commissioner of police, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to conducting intelligence-driven raids and proactive enforcement operations throughout the Territory, focusing on locations identified as potential criminal hideouts.
He advised residents and young people within the Federal Capital Territory to abstain from drug abuse, while encouraging individuals currently struggling with substance abuse to pursue professional counseling and rehabilitation support.
Backstory…
The latest crackdown comes amid persistent concerns over one-chance robbery, stealing and vehicle theft in Abuja, with the Federal Capital Territory Police Command carrying out several operations this year to dismantle syndicates targeting residents and commuters.
One of the recurring concerns has been “one-chance” robbery, in which criminals disguise themselves as commercial transport operators or passengers, lure unsuspecting commuters into vehicles and then rob, assault or abduct them.
According to Premium times, Police data cited in April showed that the FCT recorded 263 one-chance robbery cases in 2024, resulting in more than 70 arrests.
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