FCTA Taskforce sustains raid, confiscates 280 vehicles, motorcycles

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

Officials of the Operation Sweep Abuja, a citywide ministerial enforcement taskforce  initiative of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have successfully  impounded over 280 vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles for allegedly constituting nuisance and  aiding crimes in Abuja.

Director, Department of Security Services FCT Administration Adamu Gwary, who made this disclosure, said over 40 vehicles were impounded for traffic offences and erring in area of registration.

Gwary, who through Dr. Peter Olumuji, during the day five of “’Operation Sweep Abuja” late Monday, also revealed that over 200 commercial motorcycles were  apprehended for helping criminal elements through route violation.

He added that more than 40 tricycles popularly known as Keke Napep were equally impounded by the team.

He explained that the Operation Sweep Abuja, which is a multi-agency anti-crime squad endorsed by the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, will continue  to ensure that all nuisances and emerging crimes within the territory are tackled.

According to him, considering Abuja as one of the safest places to reside in the country, it has made so many persons to migrate into the capital, thereby paving way for different impacts.

He however, said all those apprehended  during the operation will be profiled accordingly, especially beggars and the destitute among them.

“All these things will help to checkmate crime rates within the FCT, which the residents have been clamoring for. And they are happy that this operation has started, and is yielding positive results in the  territory.

“Everybody knows that FCT is the safest place you can reside in Nigeria as of today. And that has made so many people to migrate into the territory. This also has its own negative implications because the infrastructure has been overstretched.People with questionable characters have also been able to come into the capital. And that is why anywhere around the world there is always this continuous mop-up exercise to keep the city clean.

“For the traffic offences, we have over 40 vehicles that have been impounded. We also have those that have violated the registration. Those that are running commercial but they are not painted, the VIO have also been able to apprehend some.

“The commercial motorcycles that have also been aiding criminal elements through route violation, we have impounded over 200 of that.

“ And the tricycle which is popularly called Keke Napep, we have over 40 that have been impounded by the traffic agencies.

“All  those who are found wanting, the police is  also going to prosecute them accordingly. And that is why it is a multi-agency anti-crime squad”, Gwary stated.