In a bid to enhance security and protect lives and property in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has initiated comprehensive profiling and conducted extensive raids on criminals’ hideouts, including bridges and subways, within the Central Business District (CBD), Maitama, and Wuse districts of Abuja.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) commended the robust response of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to the security challenges in Abuja, emphasizing the positive impact of measures taken to combat crimes.
The FCTA Joint Task Force on City Sanitation launched the operation, targeting subways and bridges around the Three Arms zone, specifically roads connecting the Ministry of Women Affairs, Police Headquarters, Court of Appeal, and Federal Secretariat. The team also targeted tunnels and green areas near Abia House, connecting River Plate Park through the National Mosque and Yar’Adua Centre, including Millennium and Chescon parks in Maitama and Wuse, known for informal activities and individuals of questionable character residing under these facilities.
Mukhtar Galadima, the Coordinator of the Taskforce and Director of FCT Department of Development Control, led the operation, citing the directive of the FCT Minister in response to residents’ complaints about the misuse of these facilities. Galadima described the sanitary conditions around these facilities as highly concerning, necessitating immediate and decisive action.
Dr. Peter Olumuji, the Secretary of the Command and Control Centre of FCT Security Services Department, highlighted residents’ concerns about criminals emerging from the bushes in these locations to rob them of valuables, including incidents within their vehicles when they fail to wind up. Under the bridges, three individuals were arrested for drug-related offenses during the operation, subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and profiling.
HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, applauded the FCTA’s efforts to eliminate kidnappers from the city and urged Minister Nyesom Wike to sustain ongoing measures, such as the demolition of shanties serving as operational cells for terrorists. The group acknowledged the tangible support provided by the minister and FCTA to equip the police, offering reassurance to residents in the face of security concerns. The civil rights advocacy group noted the positive impact of demolishing rickety structures in motor parks and other strategic areas, effectively displacing hoodlums, terrorists, and kidnappers from their operational bases in Abuja.