Abuja police warn women not to accept free rides from strangers

Miller Dantawaye, the commissioner of police, Federal Capital Territory Command, has warned residents, particularly women, against accepting free rides from strangers as part of efforts to curb criminal activities in Abuja.

Dantawaye gave the warning, Friday during a courtesy and advocacy visit by a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), including representatives of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, NBA Women Forum and Unity Bar, to the FCT Police Command headquarters.

A statement by the FCT command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the CP urged residents to remain security-conscious, particularly when boarding commercial vehicles.

He advised residents, particularly women, to be cautious about the vehicles they use and to avoid accepting unsolicited lifts from unknown persons.

“The CP further called on residents of the FCT to remain security-conscious and vigilant, particularly when boarding commercial vehicles. He advised members of the public, especially ladies, to be cautious of the vehicles they board and to refrain from accepting free rides from strangers.

He emphasised the importance of collective responsibility, timely information sharing, and public cooperation in preventing and dismantling “one-chance” criminal operations across the Territory, ” the statement said.

While commiserating with the lawyers on the killing of their colleague, Ms Princess Ochigbo, the CP assured that the command had launched discreet and extensive investigations into the incident, adding that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible.

“The Commissioner of Police commiserated with the delegation over the painful loss and assured them that the Command has commenced extensive and discreet investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident, with a firm commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators are identified, apprehended, and brought to justice,” she said.

The body of Princess Ochigbo was found on the Kubwa expressway on Tuesday, with her bag, which contained her identity card and other personal belongings, recovered a few metres from the body.