The FCT Police Command has arrested about 300 people during a major one-day operation across Abuja.
The raid targeted suspected criminal hideouts, uncompleted buildings, shanties and scavenger points across the capital.
Police said the operation was aimed at tackling crimes reported around major roads and traffic corridors.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the arrests during the operation.
He said officers searched several locations believed to be used by suspected criminals.
“Today, as you can see, we have conducted raiding in all the nooks and crannies of the FCT-uncompleted buildings, scavengers’ points, and other shanties that are not recognized by the government.
“These people have been constituting a menace: traffic r%bbery, housebreaking, ste@ling, and other heinous crimes.
We have been able to get about 300 of them just in a day.”
Police said the operation followed concerns over traffic robbery and housebreaking.
Other targeted crimes include stealing, car theft, phone snatching and “one-chance” attacks.
Authorities also recovered large quantities of illicit drugs during the raid.
Dangerous we@pons, including knives, were also recovered from some of the locations.
Sanusi warned that the FCT police arrest operation would not be a one-time exercise.
He said the command would continue searching locations linked to criminal activities.
“This is going to be perpetual. We are not going to stop. Even as you go after them, new ones still keep coming. So we are going to see who will get tired first. It’s going to be continuous.”
The commissioner also addressed concerns about the treatment of those arrested.
“They are human beings, and we will treat them as human beings because we owe them that responsibility.”
Sanusi stressed that those arrested remain suspects until proven guilty by a court.
“Only the court will prove their guilt. We are mindful of their rights as suspects, not criminals. This is FCT; we do things differently.”
The police said the suspects would be shared among different divisional cells.
The move is intended to prevent overcrowding and reduce possible health risks.
Sanusi also said the police would work with the judiciary to support quick prosecution where necessary.
The FCT Social Welfare Department will assist with rehabilitation and repatriation of non-resident vagrants where appropriate.
The commissioner urged residents to share information about suspected criminal hideouts with the police.
