By Ben Adoga
Against the backdrop of increasing crimes across the country and the need to keep FCT crime free, minister of the FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello, has called on the inspector general of police to deploy more personnel to tie nation’s capital.
He made the call recently when he visited the IGP, Usman Alkali Baba at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The minister said that the city of Abuja had expanded over the years with attendant population and inevitably an increase in crime and criminality.
He thanked the Police Force for the near elimination of the “one chance” crime which hitherto was synonymous with the FCT, he also asked that personnel deployed to Abuja be properly equipped with vehicles and advanced crowd control equipment.
He also informed the IGP that the FCT has keyed into the community policing policy of the government and has profiled able bodied men and women suitable for the task of community policing. He however called for an increase in the number of volunteers allotted to the FCT.
While thanking the IGP for the creation of a Police Division at Tungan Maje an FCT community bordering Niger State, he decried a noticeable trend whereby non-residents of the FCT will come into the city for public demonstrations and in the process, disrupt the peace of the city, mainly for publicity purposes.
In his response, the inspector general of police, extended his appreciation to the FCT Administration for the support it has given to the FCT Police Command over the years and promised the provision of needed equipment to the Command to enhance the fight against crime and criminality in the territory.
The IGP also informed the FCT minister that the Police Force was ready to train the Community Policing Volunteers from the FCT at the Administration’s expense and also called for synergy between the Minister and governors of states bordering the FCT for effective tackling of crimes that cut across the states.
Present at the courtesy visit were the permanent secretary, FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola, the director, human resources management of the FCTA, Dr Bashir Mohammed and the director, Department of Security Services, Mr. Adamu Gwary, amongst other officials of the FCTA and the Nigeria Police.