By Goodluck Ikiebe
In swift response to an armed robbery incident at First bank in Abaji on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at about 5:00 PM, the FCT Police, led by the Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, in a combined operation with the military, mobilized to scene and repelled the attack simultaneously carried out on both Abaji Divisional Police headquarters and First bank by a group of fifteen armed men who attacked with dynamites in attempt to rob the bank.
The security forces engaged the armed robbers in an intense gun duel, forcing them to scamper to safety with various degrees of bullet wounds, as the security forces succeeded in apprehending three suspects, namely, Usman (surname yet unknown), who was reported to be the gang leader, Nuhu Musa, 41 ‘m’ of Kogi State; and Muhammed Aminu, 25 ‘m’ of Abaji, with grave degrees of bullet injuries, while a yet-to-be-identified suspect was set ablaze by an irate mob at the scene after being neutralised by the security forces.
One police operative and the gang leader hit by bullet during the gun duel, were rushed to the hospital, and the doctor on duty confirmed them dead, while others are still receiving treatment.
While search operation is ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects with bullet injuries, the Commissioner of Police FCT, lauds the effectiveness of the combined operation and reaffirms the command’s unflinching commitment to ensuring that FCT remains inhabitable for criminals, noting that the safety of the residents of FCT is non-negotiable.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command in anticipation of Eid-el-Kabir celebration by Muslim faithfuls, has proactively deployed material and human resources at the Command’s disposal across the nooks and crannies of the Nation’s Capital.
The deployment which is aimed at ensuring residents of FCT enjoys a peaceful and serene atmosphere, before, during and post Eid celebration is characterized by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordinance devices (EOD) experts and personnel at various prayer grounds, recreational centers, event centres, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop and search, Vehicular and foot patrol.
Worthy of note are diversion points in the territory, some of which includes: diversion point around Eid ground by airport interchange to games village and Jabi by airport road into the main city.
The Commissioner of Police FCT, Benneth Igweh, has urged residents to give the Police operatives utmost cooperation, as the deployments is solely aimed at ensuring the safety of the populace.
He also called on the Muslim faithfuls in FCT, as they join others around the world in the celebration to embrace the virtues of the festivity, while reassuring the populace of his commitment to ensure the safety of all and sundry.
Residents are also urged to be vigilant and take advantage of the Police emergency lines to report suspicious activities through:
08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192.
