The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested more than 300 suspects during raids on suspected criminal hideouts across Abuja, with Commissioner of Police Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi warning those involved in criminal activities to leave the capital or face repatriation.

Sanusi gave the warning on Saturday while parading the suspects, who were arrested at various locations across the FCT, including uncompleted buildings.

According to the commissioner, some of those arrested allegedly disguised themselves as scavengers while engaging in criminal activities, including breaking into parked vehicles and stealing phones and handbags from residents.

He said a number of the suspects had no identifiable means of livelihood and were allegedly occupying uncompleted buildings without the consent of the property owners.

“If you don’t have a place to stay in FCT, go back to where you are coming from. We will not tolerate people in the presence of searching for livelihood to be committing crimes by snatching phones, breaking into people’s vehicles when parked,” Sanusi said.

The police commissioner said the command would not allow people without legitimate reasons for being in Abuja to engage in criminal activities.

“We won’t tolerate or accommodate people who have no business being in Abuja. Those who have no identifiable means of livelihood, we have arrested many of them,” he added.

Sanusi explained that the arrested suspects would undergo screening to determine the appropriate action against each individual.

He said those found to require repatriation would be returned to their respective states, while suspects linked to offences would be prosecuted.

“Those that need to be charged to court will be charged, but until then, they will remain in custody,” he said.

The commissioner also warned against using uncompleted buildings as shelters for criminal activities, stressing that their unfinished state did not mean they were available for occupation.

“Uncompleted buildings are not meant to harbour criminals. The fact that the buildings are uncompleted does not mean that the owners are the ones housing them. Most of the miscreants are illegal occupants,” he said.

Sanusi said the police would continue operations targeting suspected criminal hideouts and scavenger points, particularly those located in or around uncompleted structures.

He added that the Inspector General of Police had directed the command to intensify efforts to reduce crime in the Federal Capital Territory.

“We are going to continue to raid hideouts, we are going to continue to raid scavenger points, especially those in incomplete buildings,” Sanusi said.

He further disclosed that the raids would continue as a daily operation as the command works to address criminal activities across Abuja.