Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have recovered 131 vandalised armoured electricity distribution cables after foiling an attempt by suspected criminals to transport the items to buyers in Abuja.
The cables were recovered on Friday after a tinted-glass vehicle conveying them crashed while trying to evade a police patrol team.
The occupants of the vehicle fled the scene, but officers who searched the car discovered the vandalised electricity cables believed to have been stolen from damaged transformers and distribution facilities.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, said the recovery was part of sustained efforts by the command to curb criminal activities in the nation’s capital.
Dantawaye disclosed that since assuming office in October 2025, the command has arrested 160 suspects for offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, “one-chance” robbery, car theft, cultism, illegal possession of firearms and cyber-related fraud, among other violent crimes.
According to him, about 300 cases were reported during the period under review, including seven kidnapping cases that led to the arrest of 41 suspects.
He said several kidnapping gangs operating within and around the FCT were dismantled through intelligence-led operations, forest combing exercises and joint actions with other security agencies.
The commissioner added that 62 armed robbery cases were recorded, resulting in the arrest of 38 suspects, while 26 “one-chance” robbery incidents led to the arrest of 12 suspects.
He also said 35 cases of car theft and vehicle snatching were reported, with 11 suspects arrested and 20 stolen vehicles recovered both within and outside the FCT.
Dantawaye further revealed that 120 other suspects were arrested for offences related to homicide, cultism, drug crimes, illegal possession of firearms and other violent activities.
On rescue operations, the police boss said 24 kidnap victims, including women and children, were rescued from criminal hideouts and forest locations around the FCT, while eight victims of “one-chance” robbery and other violent crimes were also saved through prompt police intervention.
He noted that 96 suspects were charged to court within the period, leading to 60 convictions, while other cases are at various stages of prosecution.
The cases include kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide, fraud, cultism and burglary.
The CP said several exhibits were recovered during operations, including 21 AK-47 rifles, 10 shotguns, one K2 rifle, 37 locally made pistols, 31 fabricated firearms, ammunition, knives, cutlasses, illicit drugs, communication devices, motorcycles and cash totalling ₦15.45 million, suspected to be proceeds of crime. Fourteen vehicles linked to criminal activities and 12 counterfeit stamps and boarding tickets were also recovered.
Dantawaye also disclosed that six police officers lost their lives in the line of duty during the period, describing their deaths as a painful sacrifice in the service of the nation.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, sister security agencies and residents of the FCT for their support, while urging the public to continue providing timely information to aid effective policing of the capital.
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