Friday, 14 May 2021: Some residents of Tunganmaje Community in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory have called for the establishment of a Police Divisional Headquarters in the community.

The residents, who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen on Friday in Abuja, said the call was to address the increasing rate of crimes in the community.

Tungamaje and Anagada are nearby communities to the University of Abuja situated along the Airport road in Abuja, the Federal capital.

They called on the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, Bala Ciroma, to intervene and ensure speedy creation of the divisional headquarters in the community.

CEOAFRICA reports that the community had in the past few months experienced series of kidnappings and other crimes. On different occasions, unknown gunmen had driving to the community, pick their victims and zoomed off.

Anagada, another Abuja community that shared boundary with Tungamaje is experiencing the same infiltration of gunmen and armed robbers as residents cannot sleep with two eyes close. They are in the meantime formed vigilante groups to assist in warding off criminal elements at night.  

The Chief of Tunganmaje, Alhaji Salisu Isiaku Na’annabi, said the creation of a Police Divisional Headquarters would go a long way in addressing the insecurity challenges in the area.

He said there was Police Special Squad sent to the community but had been redeployed to Kuje for an assignment.

Na’annabi said the Police Special Squad would return to the community after their assignment in Kuje.

According to him, having a Police Divisional Headquarters will help a lot in addressing the many security challenges currently facing the community.

He thanked the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, in anticipation for approving the creation of a Police Divisional Headquarters in the area.

Na’annabi also called for the fast tracking and building of the police station in the area.

Prof. Ichado Sunday, a resident, said the FCT Commissioner of Police, the Chief Palace and residents of the community had been cooperating to ensure protection of lives and property.

Sunday, also a leader of non-indigenes in the community, said the creation of Police Divisional Headquarters would go a long way to address issues of kidnapping and armed robbery in the area.

David Aigbefoh, a resident and a lawyer, said the community had provided a land of about 3200sqm for the building of the Police Divisional Headquarters in the area and called on the Inspector General of Police for speedy implementation.

Aigbefoh, Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Gwagwalada branch, said the rate of insecurity in the community had been worrisome but with the intervention of the CP, the rate of crime had reduced.

He said the community had been the hot spot for banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery, but the intervention of the police had reduced the tension in the area.

He said: “The newspaper publication saying that the community decried the withdrawal of policemen in the community was not true.

“The public should disregard such news.’’
Aigbefoh said the people of the community had asked Baba through Ciroma to fast track the creation of the Divisional Police headquarters to help reduce crime in the area.

He, however, commended the CP and the DPO of Zuba Division for their efforts in ensuring the protection of lives and property in the area.