In a bid to curb kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes on the BwariAbuja-Kaduna road, the Nigeria Police have deployed 250 police offi cers from the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Federal Intelligence Bureau (PFIB) and the Police Mobile Force (PMF) on the route.
Speaking at the fl ag-off of the operation, yesterday, at Jere on the Abuja-Kaduna Road, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of operations, Habila Joshak, said 26 vehicles were also being deployed.
He said: “I’m here under the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Idris Ibrahim, to ensure that the kind of operation that is on-going on Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria road is replicated.
Th is operation is informed because of the operation that is already ongoing on that road.
“We are here to check the excesses of marauding fi rearms bearer standing at intervals to forcefully stop motorists, sometimes kidnap and take them into the bush and also rob some of them their belongings.
“We came here not because of Sallah patrol but to check crime and we would remain here until this road is safe for members of the public to pass unhindered.
I do not expect any criminal to operate on this road from today.
” He said recent incidents of robbery and kidnapping on the route, which he said “is an entry point into Abuja from Jos, Kaduna, Bauchi, Zamfara and other northern states, cannot be allowed to continue.
” Continuing, he said: “Th e total number of men for this operation is 250 personnel.
An Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Olufemi Haruna, and two Divisional Police Offi cers (DPOs) in charge of Jere and Tafa, and others would be here to supervise the men and ensure that their activities would not lead to extortion or activities that do not conform to standard procedure of the police.
” While assuring on the welfare of the offi cers and men, Joshak said the police management team would not abandon them and urged them to be disciplined and professional in their conduct and not mount road-blocks to extort money from motorists.
Th e police boss, who said the Force had identifi ed 10 black spots where the offi cers would be located, noting that Gambi village had been identifi ed as the number one fl ash point “because of the rocky terrain as well as the speed breakers on the road.
” “We have about six tents on this road and more would be installed.
We have helmet, bullet proof jacket, rain coat, boat and others that would ensure minimum comfort for them to operate.
