The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed the establishment of a special task force to dislodge criminal elements hiding in uncompleted structures, abandoned plots of land, and buildings across the territory.
Mr. Adamu Gwary, Director of the Department of Security Services, FCT Administration, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Gwary explained that the measure aims to curb the activities of miscreants vandalizing government assets and infrastructure. He stated that the FCT Security Committee had identified these uncompleted structures and abandoned plots as key hiding spots for criminal elements.
“The Commissioner of Police in FCT has been mandated to work with his colleagues to form a task team for this purpose,” he said. “They made a submission on Tuesday to the minister regarding the financing of this exercise, which will cover pantaker markets and locations where scavengers are operating.”
The director indicated that in the next two to three weeks, there would be strategic efforts to clear all criminal hideouts in the FCT. “This measure will ensure that criminal elements do not have hiding places to plan attacks on our infrastructure or rob residents.”
Regarding undeveloped lands, Gwary noted that the FCTA Land Department is currently conducting a census of all undeveloped lands in the FCT as directed by the minister. Wike had previously instructed owners of undeveloped plots to develop them or face revocation of their allocations.
“The lands and related departments are working diligently on undeveloped plots that pose security risks,” he added.
Additionally, the FCT minister has directed the acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to take control of all under-bridge areas in the FCT. The goal is to prevent miscreants from using these locations as hideouts.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has begun daily raids on identified criminal hotspots in Abuja. The command’s public relations officer, SP Josephine Adeh, stated that these efforts aim to combat criminal activities and protect both public and private infrastructure in the territory.
