The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has inaugurated a specialised Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to combat kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes across Abuja and its satellite communities.
Speaking at the inauguration on Monday, FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, said the unit was established on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to strengthen operational effectiveness and improve public safety, describing it as an initiative that underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to proactively addressing emerging security threats and enhancing its crime-fighting capabilities.
TheFact Daily reports that the development comes amid growing concerns over kidnapping and violent attacks in parts of the FCT. In recent months, residents of communities in Bwari, Abaji, Kwali and other outskirts of Abuja have faced a series of abductions and security breaches, prompting intensified security operations and renewed calls for stronger law enforcement measures.
It will be recalled that the VCRU was announced by the IGP on May 6 as part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force and improving its response to kidnapping, armed robbery and other organised criminal activities nationwide.
Sanyasi said the VCRU has been divided into five operational sectors to ensure wider coverage, faster response times, improved intelligence gathering and more effective policing across the territory. According to him, officers deployed to the unit were carefully selected, screened and trained based on competence, discipline and operational capacity.
He charged members of the unit to uphold professionalism and respect for human rights, warning that misconduct, abuse of authority, harassment, extortion and extrajudicial actions would not be tolerated.
The police commissioner also appealed to residents to support security agencies with timely and credible information, stressing that effective security can only be achieved through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.
Also speaking, the Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Adebisi Onasanya, described the VCRU as a force multiplier and urged its personnel to justify the confidence reposed in them. He assured the police of the military’s continued support in security operations across the FCT and its area councils.
During the event, the command presented a special commendation award to the Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, CSP Mustafa Mohammed, for his gallantry during a high-risk anti-kidnapping operation in Bwari on June 5.
Representing the FCT Council of Chiefs, the Ona of Abaji, Adamu Yunusa, described the establishment of the VCRU as a timely response to growing security concerns and pledged the support of traditional rulers in intelligence gathering and efforts to curb crime across the territory.
