The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has dismissed reports of an alleged kidnapping incident at Phase 1 Primary School, Gbagalape, Abuja, describing the claim as a false alarm.

The Command said investigations conducted after the incident found no evidence of any abduction, suspect or victim within the school premises or surrounding areas.

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, explained that officers attached to the Nyanya Division received a distress call at about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday alleging that kidnappers had invaded the school.

According to her, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Nyanya Division immediately deployed officers and surveillance teams to the scene to assess the situation and ensure the safety of pupils and staff.

Adeh said preliminary findings revealed that some pupils suddenly began shouting “kidnappers” and ran out of the school premises, creating panic among teachers, parents and members of the surrounding community.

She noted that security operatives swiftly cordoned off the school and conducted an extensive search of the premises.

“Following extensive search and questioning of persons within and around the school premises, no kidnapping incident was established, no suspect was sighted, and no victim was identified,” she stated.

The police spokesperson added that officers also searched nearby hills, boundaries and adjoining areas while precautionary visits were made to neighbouring schools as part of security measures.

She urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating fear and unnecessary tension within communities.

“The Command therefore urges members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic and tension within communities,” Adeh said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Ahmed Sanusi, encouraged residents to promptly report suspicious activities and emergencies to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency response channels.

The Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and maintaining security across the Federal Capital Territory.

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The Presidential Villa precinct in Abuja was placed under heavy security on Thursday as authorities restricted access to residents, government workers and individuals with official engagements within the State House area.

The heightened security measures followed threats of a protest over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.

A combined team of military personnel, police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) established security checkpoints along major routes leading to the Presidential Villa, including access roads from the Federal Secretariat, Supreme Court and Asokoro areas.

Security operatives conducted thorough screening of motorists and pedestrians, demanding identification and verification of their destinations before granting entry. Individuals without legitimate business within the State House precinct were turned back and directed to alternative routes.

The restrictions caused disruptions to traffic movement around parts of the Three Arms Zone and adjoining roads as security agencies intensified surveillance across strategic locations.

The security build-up comes amid plans by activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to lead a protest to the Presidential Villa if pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are not rescued.

Sowore had joined demonstrators in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday, where protesters demanded urgent action from the government to secure the release of the victims kidnapped on May 15.

During the demonstration, he criticised the government’s response to insecurity and vowed to continue public protests until the abductees regain their freedom.

According to him, protesters would march to the Presidential Villa if the victims remained in captivity, insisting that the federal government must fulfil its responsibility of protecting citizens and ensuring national security.

As of the time of filing this report, security personnel remained deployed across key entry points to the Presidential Villa, while access restrictions continued to be strictly enforced.

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Residents across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are increasingly paying out of pocket for security as gaps in formal policing continue to widen.

In many satellite towns and fast-growing suburbs, households now contribute monthly fees to sustain vigilante groups and private guards. What started as a temporary fix has evolved into a survival strategy.

Despite the constitutional responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force to protect lives and property, many residents say local arrangements now offer more reliable protection.

Rising Insecurity Forces Community Action

Communities such as Tungan-Maje, Pegi, and parts of Gwagwalada have experienced repeated security threats, including burglary and kidnapping.

Residents say these incidents pushed them to organise and fund local security systems.

In some areas, tenants contribute between ₦1,000 and ₦2,000 monthly, while landlords pay even higher fees. These funds are used to hire vigilantes, install gates, and maintain patrol operations.

A resident in Tungan-Maje said the initiative has reduced crime significantly, with no reported kidnapping cases in over two years.

Cost of Security Adds to Economic Pressure

While the system has improved safety in some areas, it has also increased the cost of living.

In Kubwa and Bwari, residents contribute between ₦500 and ₦3,000 monthly, depending on the arrangement. In gated communities like Gwarinpa, security fees are sometimes added to annual rent, reaching up to ₦12,000 yearly.

For business owners, the cost is even higher. Some spend up to ₦100,000 monthly on private guards, in addition to community levies.

For low-income earners, these payments come with difficult trade-offs. One resident noted that even ₦1,000 could mean sacrificing basic needs like food.

Vigilante Groups Fill Security Vacuum

Vigilante groups say their operations rely heavily on community funding.

They maintain that their role is to support, not replace, formal security agencies. However, limited funding and poor equipment continue to affect their effectiveness.

Security analysts link the growing reliance on vigilantes to manpower shortages and rapid urban expansion in Abuja.

Concerns Over Accountability

Despite their role, concerns remain about accountability.

Some security officials warn that suspects are not always handed over to the police, with cases of extrajudicial actions raising concerns.

Experts recommend stronger collaboration between communities, vigilantes, and security agencies.

Police Promise Improved Response

The FCT Police Command has acknowledged the concerns and promised better response times.

Officials say emergency calls will be addressed within five minutes, with improved coordination between control centres and field officers.

Authorities also revealed plans to recruit more personnel to improve coverage across communities.

The Bigger Picture

As Abuja continues to expand, security infrastructure has struggled to keep pace.

This has left residents funding their own protection, turning security into a shared community responsibility rather than a government service.

While some residents see the system as effective, others believe it reflects a failure in public security.

Story credit: Dailytrust

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has urged Abuja residents to stop raising false security alarms, assuring the public that security agencies remain fully alert and prepared to protect lives and property.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, gave the warning after an expanded Security Council meeting convened by the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, at his Life Camp residence.

Dantawaye debunked recent rumours of attacks at Veritas University, Bwari, and Government Secondary School, Tungan Maje, describing them as panic-driven misunderstandings.

According to him, security teams swiftly investigated both locations and found no threats.

“We had two cases yesterday where residents mistook ordinary movements for bandit attacks. Within five minutes, our personnel responded and discovered the alarms were false,” he said.

The CP appealed to residents to remain calm, noting that massive deployments have been made across the Territory under the newly relaunched Operation Sweep.

He explained that four operational sectors have been created—covering Bwari, Gwagwalada, and the city centre including Karu, Mararaba, Karshi and Orozo.

Dantawaye commended the FCT Minister for providing the required logistics to strengthen security patrols and response systems.

The CP also assured residents of enhanced protection at worship centres.

“On Fridays, we will deploy officers to secure all major mosques, and on Sundays, churches will receive the same level of protection,” he said.

He further revealed that criminal hideouts—especially shanties—have been identified and will be removed, with police providing full support.

Dantawaye also warned residents to be cautious of dispatch riders, noting that two riders were recently arrested for transporting illicit drugs, including Indian hemp.

He encouraged residents to carry out their daily activities confidently, assuring that security agencies “are on top of their game.”

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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has begun a special operation aimed at tackling crime across Abuja and its surrounding areas.

According to a statement from the Command, the operation will run from November 2025 through January 2026.

It will involve officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, the Department of Operations, and all divisional police formations in the FCT.

Commissioner of Police Benneth Igweh Dantawaye said the exercise is designed to identify and arrest criminals hiding in various parts of the city. He added that police teams will focus on black spots, criminal hideouts, and vulnerable communities to ensure the safety of residents.

He said the operation will be carried out with intensity and consistency and directed all officers to take full control of identified areas to prevent criminal activities.

The Commissioner warned officers involved to carry out their duties with professionalism and respect for human rights, stressing that no act of misconduct will be tolerated.

He urged residents to cooperate with security personnel and to report any suspicious movements to the nearest police station. Dantawaye also reminded the public that community support remains crucial to maintaining peace and security in the FCT.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has begun a major crackdown on uncompleted and abandoned buildings across Abuja to curb rising cases of robbery, abduction, and theft.

Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, directed all Divisional Police Officers to “intensify patrols and conduct thorough raids on uncompleted buildings and suspected criminal hideouts within their jurisdictions.”

Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh said the move was part of ongoing efforts to “prevent criminals from using abandoned or active construction sites as operational bases.”

The command also ordered property developers to register and profile all artisans, labourers, and security personnel working or residing at construction sites before October 31, 2025.

“Property developers are urged to visit the nearest police divisions and ensure their security personnel, artisans, and labourers are properly documented,” Adeh said, warning that “any unidentified persons found on-site after 6:00 p.m. will be arrested.”

She reminded residents that scavenging, known locally as Baban Bola, remains banned in the FCT.

“Residents are advised to report any scavengers or suspicious persons sighted around their neighbourhoods immediately to the police,” she added.

Adeh emphasized that “security is a collective responsibility,” urging estate managers and community leaders to cooperate with the police by reporting suspicious movements and profiling domestic staff.

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished more than 1,000 makeshift shanties and unauthorized structures blocking a major road corridor in Karsana, close to the Bunkoro District in Gwarinpa.

Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, confirmed the operation on Monday during a citywide sanitation exercise carried out by the FCTA joint task force.

He explained that the clean-up targeted illegal squatters and people of questionable character, stressing that indigenous homes were deliberately spared. The demolition, he said, would continue until the entire two-kilometre stretch of road was cleared.

“Today’s exercise is along the proposed Ring Road 3 corridor at the intersection of N16 and RR3, near Mab Global Estate. The shanties and illegal settlements here pose both security and environmental threats, so the operation is continuing as planned,” Galadima said.

Most of the destroyed structures, he noted, were temporary shelters built with wood and other weak materials. He added that the exercise had already cleared over 1,000 shanties, with more still under removal.

Speaking on the security implications, Adamu Gwary, FCTA Director of Security Services Development, represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, said the operation had brought relief to nearby estates such as Mab Global.

“There is a clear link between development control and community safety. Many criminal elements hide within these illegal structures, using indigenous settlements as cover,” he said.

Gwary added that no arrests were made during the operation, but the exercise would continue to address security concerns. He also confirmed an ongoing crackdown on vehicles with tinted windows, explaining that many permits were forged and tied to robbery cases.

Despite an Inspector-General of Police directive delaying enforcement until October 2025, Gwary defended the early crackdown, pointing to a rise in “one-chance” robberies involving illegally tinted vehicles in Abuja.

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