The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified security operations across Abuja as Operation Sweep, a special joint security task force, combed motor parks and other strategic locations on Monday to flush out criminal elements ahead of the Yuletide festivities.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise in Abuja, the Director of the Security Services Department of the FCTA, Mr. Adamu Gwary, said the operation was aimed at ensuring a safe and secure festive season for residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
Gwary, who was represented by the Secretary of the Command and Control Centre, Dr. Peter Olumuji, explained that the ongoing exercise would be sustained throughout the festive period to strengthen security across the territory.
According to him, the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has issued a firm directive to security agencies operating under Operation Sweep to rid the FCT of all forms of criminality.
He noted that the operation had recorded significant success so far and would continue with close monitoring of motor parks across the city.
Gwary disclosed that illegal motor parks allegedly being used by “one chance” criminal elements to abduct unsuspecting victims were being dismantled.
“Also, any place harbouring criminal elements, including shanties, is being destroyed,” he said.
He warned miscreants and criminal elements to stay away from the FCT, stressing that there would be no safe haven for criminals within the territory.
“We want to tell all miscreants and criminal elements in the FCT that the territory will be too hot for them to operate. We don’t have a safe haven for criminals in the FCT anymore and they should take note of that,” Gwary said.
He added that several arrests had already been made, many shanties dismantled, and criminal elements posing as taxi drivers dislodged during the operation.
According to him, the overarching goal is to guarantee the safety of lives and property of all residents of the FCT during the Yuletide season and beyond.
Gwary further revealed that the FCTA, in collaboration with security agencies, had deployed officers and men to suspected blackspots across the city to ensure tight security throughout the festive period.
He urged operators of motor parks and event centres to cooperate with security agencies by ensuring that individuals without clear means of identification, especially motorists, are not allowed to operate within their premises.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jabi Motor Park, Abuja, Mr. Adamu Abubakar, commended Operation Sweep for its efforts in ridding the city of “one chance” operators.
Abubakar said the exercise was helping to sanitise the operations of transport workers in the FCT and restore public confidence in the transport system.
