The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, security Committee has vowed to effectively tackle the increasing influx of destitute and road traffic offenders within the nation’s capital and it’s environment as their actions constitute threat to the common interest of the territory.
At a meeting presided over by the Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital, the Minister issued a strong directive to relevant authorities for full implementation of the operation.
Briefing Journalists shortly after the security meeting, the FCT Commissioner of police, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, said traffic offences that equally contribute to crime in the city have been identified, such as seeing people driving around with covered number plates, people driving against the traffic.
Adewale noted that, ” These are challenges that are life-threatening, because anybody driving against the traffic, that is one way, is actually on suicide mission.
” There is going to be total clampdown on these offenders and they will be properly documented so that we know the kind of attitude they are putting up as it constitutes threat to the common interest of our FCT. The directive has been given and we are rolling out for full implementation of this.”
He also revealed that through the FCT Operation Sweep exercise, not less than 675 vehicles were impounded for different traffic offences in Abuja, within just one month period.
Undergoing profiling
The CP further said that within same period, many arrests were made, with more than 273 destitutes taken to the Bwari center undergoing profiling and taken care of, to be relocated to where they belong.
“As we speak, more than 670 vehicles were impounded. the issue of improper documentation, tinted glasses, which we all know is not acceptable here, the issue of covered number plates, and the issue of operating without appropriate authority, you want to operate bolt, but you want to do all these that are creating a problem of this one chance. We have nothing less than 675 of them.
“So many arrests where made within the period. As we speak, more than 273 destitutes are in the Bwari center undergoing profiling and taken care of but they will need to be relocated to where they belong,” he stated.
Kind of threat
While commenting on the issue of beggars, destitute all over the city, CP Adewale said that the Minister has tasked the service commanders to continue addressing that situation with a view to seeing that they rid the whole of FCT streets, of such miscreants that constitute a kind of threat to the environment.
Adewale also hinted that, “On the issue of arrest and profiling, you know in the course of this operation, we have offenses that relate to drug peddling, we have offenses that relate to crime proper, we have offenses that have to do with destitute and illegal begging.
“All these ones that fall within the destitute and illegal begging on the road, this one has been taken care of by SDS. But for those found committing offenses that relate to drug peddling, that one has been handed over to NDLEA, and that is the statistic we have. So different departments have different statistics on the figure that has been shifted to them, although we have our general figure.
“To the glory of God, the exercise has been very successful and from the gain we have recorded, we have seen the need to continue.”
Also in attendance were the Head of Service, FCT, Garrison Commandant FCT,
FCT Commander of NSCDC, FCT Director of DSS, FCT Director of Security, Director of development control, Area Council Chairmen amongst others.
Lateefah Ibrahim