Don’t join proposed protests, FCT CP begs Abuja residents

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh has appealed to residents of Abuja not to join the proposed protest against economic hardship slated for August, to avoid it being highjacked by criminals to cause destruction of new infrastructure recently put in place by the FCT administration and President Bola Tinubu.

Igweh disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Monday during the parade of criminal suspects, particularly the leader of the armed robbery gang that killed retired Brigadier General Uwen Harold Udokwerre in Abuja on June 22, 2024.

He said: “Lions do not destroy their den. We have toiled so much to ensure and provide security for the FCT. In the cause of this, we have gone to Kaduna, we have gone to Kogi, we have gone to Nasarawa to fish our criminals who came to disturb the peace of Abuja.

“In this process, we have lost officers. Last week we lost two officers, the previous week, we lost one officer over efforts at providing security and safeguarding residents. We don’t want to lose any more people.

“So please don’t allow the destruction of what the minister, what Mr President is doing. We have been in this FCT, we know when there are changes, roads, and infrastructure. I am pleading with residents to not join this protest.

“We don’t want miscreants to come from outside the FCT to come and start destroying them. We will go back to square one where we were before. I plead, I beg of you, do not join this protest.

“Let us continue collectively to make FCT safe. Let them go and do what they want to do. But not with us. Act maturely. Act maturely. Act like people who appreciate. Even the loss we have been losing to ensure your safety. Use it to appreciate us. If you give it to us, we will be very happy. We will continue to provide security for you.

On the arrest of the leader of the armed robbery gang that killed the general, Igweh said: “Last time, I did show you the four killers, kidnappers, and robbers that went and killed Brigadier General Uwem Harold Udokwerre retired. Today, I will show you the organizer of the killing and the robbery.

“We have also recovered the general’s gun that was with him. We have recovered the wristwatch of the general and the wife’s jewelry which they all robbed from the general’s house.

“The organiser is here and we have arrested him. He is Alhaji Ashiru. He had been arrested before for crime and jailed in prison and escaped during the jail break.

“Instead of him to repent, he continued with more audacity. We arrested him in Kano where he was trying to exit the country. I told him that you can run but as far as you touch FCT, we are going to get you. So, I’ve got him. He’s here.

“On the day they attacked the general’s house, he rented a hotel close to the general’s Estate. That was where he coordinated the robbery. In his residence, we recovered drugs which they take to be high.”

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