BREAKING: FCT Police Boss Beefs Up Security For IGP Honours Night, Sallah, June 12 Celebrations; Rallies Area Commanders, Others As Protests Loom

The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ajao S. Adewale, has announced a comprehensive security plan for Abuja ahead of several major events, including the IGP’s Honours and Award Night, the Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah) festivities, and the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations.

On Monday, June 2, 2025, CP Adewale held a high-level meeting with all six Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and heads of Tactical Teams under the FCT Command, a statement issued by FCT Police Command spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh disclosed.

The meeting, which lasted three hours, was aimed at reviewing security measures and reinforcing the professionalism and accountability of officers during what is expected to be a busy period in the capital.

CP Adewale emphasised the need for heightened security within each Area of Responsibility, particularly at key entry and exit points, as Abuja is set to receive senior police officers and dignitaries from across the country for the IGP’s event.

He also warned officers against extortion, unprofessional conduct, and misuse of police powers, stressing the importance of intelligence-led policing and maintaining public trust.

The Commissioner underscored the need for swift responses to distress calls, cautioning that any delays could jeopardise public safety.

He reminded officers that bail remains free and any demands for money would be met with strict disciplinary action. He further urged DPOs to maintain strict supervision of their officers to ensure full accountability.

CP Adewale also reiterated the importance of officers’ conduct in dealing with the public, highlighting that they must be approachable, camera-friendly, and uphold the positive image of the Nigeria Police Force.

He called for stronger community policing initiatives, including youth engagement programmes to promote trust and cooperation with local communities.

The police commissioner gave the following operational directives aimed at ensuring public safety and fostering public trust: Deployment of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to sweep worship and recreational centres ahead of expected gatherings; sustained intelligence-led raids on identified black spots known for illicit drug activities, to be conducted professionally and without abuse; zero tolerance for extortion in any form; officers must be smartly dressed, disciplined, and courteous in their interactions with the public; officers are strictly warned against involvement in civil disputes, particularly land-related matters and continuous raids must not serve as a cover for harassment or illegal financial demands.

Others reinforcement of the standing order that bail is free; any officer found requesting money for bail will be dealt with in accordance with established disciplinary procedures; DPOs are to ensure strict supervision and accountability of all personnel under their command; searching of mobile phones without appropriate legal authority is prohibited; all officers are expected to be camera-friendly, approachable, and uphold the image of the Force; response to distress calls must be swift and efficient, with a Command-wide target response time of under 10 minutes; crackdown on vehicles bearing fake or fraudulently acquired diplomatic number plates; and all DPOs are directed to initiate youth engagement programmes and foster close collaboration with local communities to promote community policing and crime prevention.

In his closing remarks, the Police Commissioner reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the FCT Police Command to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors to the nation’s capital.

He called on the public to remain law-abiding and to partner with the police in keeping Abuja secure during the upcoming events.

Meanwhile, the Take It Back Movement had declared June 12 a “national day of resistance,” calling on Nigerians to stand “against tyranny and bad governance” under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

In a strongly worded statement issued on June 2, the group’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, said that the current government had betrayed the democratic ideals for which many Nigerians fought and died.

“Nigeria stands today not as a democratic nation, but as a country at war with its own people,” the statement said.

The group accused the government of suppressing freedom of speech and undermining the right to peaceful assembly.

It cited instances of journalists being harassed, activists detained, and citizens arrested for social media posts, facilitated by the weaponisation of the Cybercrime Act.

“Even more alarming is the escalating assault on the right to protest,” the statement read. “Peaceful assembly, a cornerstone of any democratic society, has become synonymous to treasonable felony under the government of Tinubu.”

The movement also drew attention to ongoing violence and killings in rural communities across the country.

It highlighted the persistent bloodshed in Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, and the Middle Belt, lamenting the state’s complicity in the violence through inaction, negligence, or outright denial.

“This is not a democracy,” Sanyaolu stated. “This is organised cruelty.”

Rejecting the official ceremonies typically held on June 12 to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the Take It Back Movement vowed to use the day as a national day of resistance.

It urged all Nigerians—youth, students, workers, civil society, market women, artisans, and patriots at home and abroad—to mobilise and defend their rights.

“This June 12, we march not just for ourselves, but for the slain in Benue, the displaced in Plateau, the silenced in detention, and the starving masses abandoned by a corrupt elite,” the statement declared.