FCT Police Command Recovered N409m From Kidnappers, Armed Robbers And Fraudsters In 2024

A total of N409,992,000 were recovered from kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in 2024.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

According to the command's scorecard, N36,850,000 was recovered from kidnapping suspects, N68,552,000 from armed robbery suspects, N19,590,000 from burglary cases and N285,000,000 from fraud cases.

The PPRO said a total of 1,426 cases were reported, leading to the arrest of 1,077 suspects for homicide, cybercrime, one-chance robbery, kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, cultism and other crimes.

The report also disclosed that 68 kidnap victims and 19 one-chance robbery were rescued in 2024.

It further revealed that a total of 140 police officers died on active duty while 68 cases of police misconduct were reported to the Command’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU).

"At the start of 2024, the FCT faced significant security challenges across its six area councils, including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, car theft, “one-chance” robbery, illegal possession and use of firearms, homicides, and other violent crimes,” the statement read.

"In alignment with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, the FCT Police Command conducted a thorough analysis of the security situation, carried out crime-mapping, identified crime hotspots, and implemented an action plan with the following strategies: •Robust community policing engagements. •Sustained targeted clearance operations. •Intelligence-led and visibility policing. •Collaboration with sister security agencies. •Strategic communication, public enlightenment, and sensitization.

"Achievements (January–December 2024) During the year under review, a total of 1,426 cases were reported, leading to the arrest of 1,077 suspects.

"ARRESTS: •Kidnapping: 104 cases reported; 216 suspects arrested. •Armed Robbery: 268 cases reported; 132 suspects arrested. •“One-Chance” Robbery: 263 cases reported; 71 suspects arrested. •Cybercrime: 32 cases reported; 15 suspects arrested. •Homicide: 68 cases reported; 78 suspects arrested. •Burglary: 73 cases reported; 20 suspects arrested. •Fraud: 385 cases reported; 422 suspects arrested. •Cultism: 38 cases reported; 59 suspects arrested. •Police Misconduct: 68 cases reported to the Command’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU). •Car Theft: 127 cases reported; 64 suspects arrested. RESCUES: •Kidnapping Victims Rescued: 68. • “One-Chance” Robbery Victims Rescued: 19.

"CASES CHARGED TO COURT AND CONVICTIONS: •Kidnapping: 38 suspects charged; 21 convicted. •“One-Chance” Robbery: 16 suspects charged; 11 convicted. •Homicide: 32 suspects charged; 8 convicted. •Fraud: 178 suspects charged; 58 convicted. •Cultism: 19 suspects charged; 11 convicted. •Burglary: 26 suspects charged; 8 convicted. •Police Misconduct: 58 suspects charged; no convictions recorded. •Car Theft: 21 suspects charged; 11 convicted.

"RECOVERIES: •Firearms: 376, including 13 AK-47 magazines and 187 rounds of live ammunition. •Cash Recovered: •N36,850,000 from kidnapping suspects. •N68,552,000 from armed robbery suspects. •N19,590,000 from burglary cases. •N285,000,000 from fraud cases. •Grand Total: N409,992,000.

"•Vehicles Recovered: •73 from car theft cases. •24 from “one-chance” robbery cases. •2 from cultism cases.

"From the above statistics, a 15.1% reduction in crime incidents within the FCT was recorded between 2023 and 2024.

"POLICE OFFICERS WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY/ACTIVE SERVICE: 140 officers.

"Plans for 2025 Building on the successes of 2024, the Command will intensify: •Community policing engagements. •Intelligence-led policing strategies. •Targeted clearance operations. •Public enlightenment initiatives to address the evolving security demands of the FCT.

“Appreciation The Command extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Minister of the FCT, residents, sister security agencies, the media, members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), vigilante groups, and community policing stakeholders for their unwavering support and cooperation.”