The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched a special “Operation Sweep Abuja” to combat escalating criminal activity and boost security in the nation’s capital.
This strategic security action comes after 19 people were allegedly kidnapped from one of the rural settlements in the FCT’s Bwari Area Council.
Remember that just a few days ago, the Chairmen of the Six Area Councils met with FCT Ministers and lamented the rising insecurity.
Concerning the prevalence of insecurity in the councils, Kwali Area Council chairman Danladi Chiya urged the minister to intervene.
He said: “We have the major challenge of insecurity across the six Area Councils. Just today (Thursday), about 19 people were kidnapped in the Bwari Area Council. I just received about five in my council who were in captivity for about six days.”
Regarding this development, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike had disclosed his plans to activate a special security measure to tackle it immediately.
Wike had said: “Insecurity is a major problem all over and those of you who are outside the Municipality, you have to work hard. Information is key. The incident of kidnap you talked about, nobody has reported that to me. It is a serious issue and we need to call an emergency security meeting. I have to call the Director of SSS and the CP now to give me more details because it is very embarrassing to me. Though I am happy you said the SSS official and the DPO in the affected council are informed on the situation.“
Launching the Operation over the weekend, FCT Police Commissioner, CP Haruna Garba, who addressed a combined team of the Police, Military, Department of State Security, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other paramilitary agencies, said that reports of crime within Abuja were becoming too worrisome.
Garba noted that “this operation was put together by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The process will affect hawkers, illegal motor park operators and miscreants who go about doing trading in the city centre are the ones we want to sweep out of Abuja.
” Even scavengers are to be arrested nit just to sweep them out. Kidnapping is also part of your mandate. You need to watch out.”
On his part, Commander Guards Brigade, Kunle Onasanya also confirmed that security issues have remained a serious concern to security agencies in FCT for some time now.
Onasanya said: “In the recent past even as we speak now, there has been an increase in crime rate within Abuja. We cannot fold our hands and watch while all these happen in FCT.
” Ensure you maintain the maximum standard of discipline. In the course of your operations, areas will be earmarked for raid. Illegal parks and those taking drugs at various places will be cleared. The message is that there will no longer be criminals in the city.
” Your operations will not just be restricted within the city centre, but all the Area Council.“
