Police officers in Abuja’s Mabushi district have come under scrutiny following a controversial raid on insurance brokers, allegedly linked to the circulation of fake roadworthiness certificates.
The operation, which took place around 10:00 a.m. near the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Transport Services (FCT DRTS) headquarters, was reportedly conducted by officers from the Mabushi Divisional Police Station alongside vigilante groups.
According to intelligence obtained by the Arewa Renaissance Group, led by its coordinator Usman Abba, the police ordered the arrest of insurance brokers operating in the area.
However, questions have been raised about the legality of the police action, as the issuance of roadworthiness certificates falls under the mandate of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), not the police.
Security analyst Comrade Salihu Dantata Mahmud criticized the operation, stating that the police had exceeded their jurisdiction by involving vigilantes in the arrests.
He called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the matter, citing concerns that the Mabushi division has a history of such operations that may not be legally justified.
“While the police have a role in addressing illegal activities, they should collaborate with the appropriate regulatory bodies,” Mahmud said.
“The divisional police officer (DPO) could have engaged the FCT DRTS Public Relations Officer for clarification before taking action.”
It remains unclear whether tensions between the Mabushi police division and the DRTS played a role in the lack of coordination.
While the IGP has previously defended police involvement in insurance-related matters, critics argue that their jurisdiction does not extend to roadworthiness inspections, which require technical assessments.
The raid has sparked debate over the limits of police authority in enforcing road safety regulations and the need for improved inter-agency cooperation to tackle fraud without overstepping legal boundaries.
