The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has impounded more than 700 vehicles in Abuja for various offences, including the use of tinted glass without permits, fake number plates, and other traffic violations.
The Director of the FCTA Department of Security Services, Adamu Gwary, said the clampdown is part of the second phase of Operation Sweep Abuja Clean, a multi-agency crime prevention initiative.
Gwary who spoke through the Secretary, FCTA Command and Control Center, Dr Peter Olumuji, explained that “the exercise targets criminally-inclined motorists, especially those perpetrating the notorious ‘one chance’ robberies in the city and satellite towns.”
Dr Olumuji noted that intelligence gathered from victims revealed that most of the vehicles used for ‘one chance’ are either illegally tinted, unregistered, or bearing fake number plates.
He stressed that some vehicle owners, such as cab drivers, have no justification for using tinted glass, which often aids criminals in concealing their activities.
“We are seeing people who are into businesses using tinted glass. Most of the victims that we have interrogated that have fallen victim of one chance, they always let us know that the vehicles they boarded are tinted.
“As at now in Operation Sweep, we have impounded over 700 vehicles from both the first and second phases. The operation has drastically reduced the incidences of one chance to the barest minimum. Our stop-and-search exercise has made it clear to criminals that no matter where they are in the FCT, the team will always reach them,” Dr. Olumuji stated.
He further assured residents of the FCT that the clampdown is yielding results, citing several stolen vehicles recovered within the last week alone.
He appealed to residents to bear with the temporary inconveniences caused by the stop-and-search operations, emphasising that the measures are aimed at safeguarding lives and property.
Unpainted taxes
Also speaking, the Head of Operations, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Mrs. Deborah Osho, reiterated the Administration’s commitment to rid the city of unregistered and unpainted taxis, which are commonly used by criminals.
She disclosed that several vehicles were impounded during the joint task force operation, particularly for offences such as driving against traffic, lack of registration, and the use of plates not assigned to the vehicles.
“Yes , this is a joint taskforce team, a joint collaboration with all agencies and especially the lead agency, which is the police. We work together and because of their presence it has made us apprehend a lot of vehicles, especially those driving against the traffic. It is a common thing in Abuja and we are trying to stop them.
“They can take ABC for a Corolla and once we get to the system we can find that that ABC is not even for Corolla, it may be for Peugeot. Therefore, most of these one-chance use vehicle number plates that cannot be traced and once we get such kind of suspicion, those vehicles are picked.
“Most of the one-chance vehicles either have fake number plates not traceable to the actual vehicles , or operate as unpainted taxis, making it difficult to identify them. Today in Karu, you can see the huge number of vehicles apprehended. This is sending a clear message that Abuja is too hot for criminals,” Osho said.
Both officials assured residents that Operation Sweep will continue across the city and suburbs until sanity is restored on Abuja roads, urging citizens to cooperate with enforcement officers for a safer and more secure FCT.
Lateefah Ibrahim