Fuel Price Hike Cripples Police Activities In FCT

The ongoing hike in fuel price has started affecting the security arrangements in Nigeria as the commissioner of police, FCT, CP Haruna Garba has said lack of fuel is preventing the Nigeria Police Force, FCT command from securing the city round the clock.

The CP stated this during the familiarisation visit of AIG Zone 7, AIG Adebowale Williams to the FCT police command on July 20, 2023.

According to the CP, who identified inadequate patrol vehicles and fuelling as the major challenges of the command, further stated that “Fuelling the patrol vehicles to undertake round the clock patrol of the city has become a big challenge.”

The CP also identified inadequate manpower; especially drivers, as one of the command’s major challenges and called for assistance from the police management.

The commissioner also said in policing the FCT, the police will adhere to professional ethics, abide by their code of conduct and respect the rights of the people.

On crime prevention, the commissioner of police said: “In fighting crime and criminality in the FCT, we have adopted so many strategies and this has been yielding positive results.  The command has embarked on massive raids in the last two months on black/criminal hotspots and uncompleted buildings and canals. The outcome has been positive as suspected armed robbers are being arrested on a daily basis. In addition, many recoveries in terms of firearms and hard drugs were also made.”       

Speaking on the raids on scavengers, the CP said in the last two months, the command has clamped down on activities of the scavengers otherwise known as Bababolas whose habit is to destroy the critical infrastructures in the FCT.

“Their activities have become a source of concern and threat to the residents of the FCT. They have been involved in theft and destruction of critical infrastructures in the FCT. In the last two months, 212 scavengers have been arrested and arraigned in court,” he added.