FCT Police Launch Crackdown on Abandoned Buildings to Curb Criminal Activity

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has initiated a citywide operation targeting uncompleted and abandoned buildings across Abuja as part of efforts to reduce incidents of robbery, abduction, and other criminal activities.

Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, directed all Divisional Police Officers to intensify patrols and conduct coordinated raids on uncompleted buildings and suspected criminal hideouts. The directive, according to the command, is part of a broader strategy to enhance public safety and restore confidence among residents.

Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh explained that the exercise aims to prevent criminals from using vacant or ongoing construction sites as operational bases. “Uncompleted buildings have increasingly become shelters for criminal elements. This operation will ensure such structures are cleared and secured,” she stated.

Developers Ordered to Comply with Security Directives

The command also instructed property developers to register and profile all artisans, labourers, and security personnel working or residing at construction sites. The directive mandates developers to cooperate with local police divisions to ensure full documentation of individuals accessing construction areas.

“Any unidentified person found on-site after 6:00 p.m. will be arrested,” Adeh warned, adding that the measure seeks to close gaps that criminals often exploit within the real estate and construction sectors.

The command further reiterated that scavenging popularly known as Baban Bola remains banned within the FCT. Residents have been urged to report any scavengers or suspicious persons sighted in their neighbourhoods.

Strengthening Security through Community Partnership

Adeh emphasised that security in Abuja requires active collaboration between law enforcement, developers, and community leaders. She urged estate managers, residents’ associations, and local chiefs to support the police by promptly reporting suspicious movements and ensuring that domestic and construction workers are properly profiled.

“Security is a shared responsibility,” she noted. “We are calling on all stakeholders to take ownership of the safety of their environments.”

Outlook: Balancing Safety and Development

Abuja’s rapid urban expansion has led to a proliferation of incomplete buildings, many left unattended due to funding or legal disputes. Analysts warn that without stronger regulation and inter-agency coordination, such sites may continue to pose both security and urban management challenges.

The ongoing police exercise underscores the growing intersection between security and urban development policy in Nigeria’s capital. Stakeholders now await how the enforcement drive will balance public safety concerns with the rights of property owners and developers in the months ahead.