Yuletide: FCTA intensifies raid on miscreants, others

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its taskforce code named :’Operation Sweep Abuja’, has assured intensive efforts to curb nefarious activities of miscreants and other elements across strategic locations throughout this yuletide season in Abuja.
This was disclosed yesterday when the Task force in a show of force stormed the streets and motor parks around Garki Area 1, Wuse and Jabi, to assure residents especially motorists of improved safety measures in the Territory.
In particular, the team visited Apo bridge, Area 1 Roundabout, Julius Berger junction, and Utako Motor park, where it sensitized the operators and travelers.
Speaking during the exercise, the Director, Department of Security Services, FCT Administration, Adamu Gwary, said the administration in partnership with security agencies have also deployed men and officers to suspected blackspot to provide tight security during the festive period.
Gwary represented by Dr. Olumuji Peter, Secretary, Command and Control Centre at the Department, stressed the need for operators of motor parks, event centres to ensure that those without clear identity especially motorists are not allowed to operate among them.
“We are going round the city in continuation of the ongoing Operation Sweep, ensuring that the FCTA is rid of all miscreant and criminal elements, because this yuletide season is meant for family and friends to unite and enjoy togetherness.
“But you know, in as much as you have this, you also have the miscreants and criminal elements that also want to bring surprises.
“And the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given a marching order to the security agencies under the Operation Sweep, that every form of criminality should be crushed accordingly.
“We are going to sustain monitoring of motor parks, dismantling illegal motor parks too, that can be used as an avenue for one chance syndicate.
“The FCT Police Command has done a massive deployment already.
“Just like a few days ago, the Commissioner of Police, railed out the deployment order, and officers have been stationed in strategic areas”, Gwary stated.
Regarding other security measures, head, enforcement unit, FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Ukachi Adebayo, said the department so far had evacuated 181 beggars in the last two weeks.
She said, “the beggars arrested are currently in our holding centre. When we apprehend, we profile, we take care of their welfare. Then we train those that want to be trained.”
On his part, the chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Utako Motor park, Adamu Abubakar said motorists without proper identity are not allowed to operate in the park.
He pledged to sustain the profiling of all members in the park especially the new ones.