The Federal Capital Territory Administration taskforce has recovered dangerous weapons and impounded about 20 vehicles in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, following a major security sweep on Wednesday.
Led by Muktar Galadima, Director of the Department of Development Control, the team stormed the area during heavy rain in the early hours, targeting makeshift structures and suspected criminals.
Galadima said the operation followed a directive from FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, asking the taskforce to intensify efforts in clearing criminal elements and illegal structures from the city.
“We have been able to identify a location that somehow poses a lot of challenge to the city’s security and then a city’s aesthetic quality and we have been able to clear the menace and even to chase away people of questionable character,” he told reporters.
He explained that the cleared area was not meant for residential use but had been illegally occupied. “Where we are standing now is a proposed road corridor that has been designated as the Inner Northern Expressway just like what we have as Goodluck-Ebele Jonathan Expressway.”
A mop-up exercise is expected to take place on Thursday. Galadima urged property owners to start developing their land in line with the minister’s directive or risk losing it.
Adamu Gwary, Director of the Department of Security Services, said intelligence showed the area had become a criminal hideout. He was represented by Dr Peter Olumuji, who displayed weapons recovered during the raid.
“If you look at some of these machetes I am holding here, these are the weapons most of these criminal elements who hibernate in this particular axis normally used to attack unsuspecting passers-by and motoring public,” Olumuji said.
He added, “From here, they can go towards the National Mosque bridge and they can also access the Zone 1 bridge. So most of those complaints from the public or passers-by of being attacked are done by these miscreants in this area.”
“When they attack, they do not only collect their valuables, they also go ahead to machete them with these machetes. Evidences abound in the various police posts around here.”
Deborah Osho, Head of Operations at the Directorate of Road Traffic Service, confirmed that about 20 vehicles were seized. According to her, some of the vehicles were linked to “one-chance” operations.
She said, “These vehicles will be properly documented, and the owners will pay heavy fines before they can retrieve them.”
