The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has directed that security be strengthened across Abuja, with enhanced surveillance at all borders with neighbouring states and major entry points.
To this end, the Operation Sweep Squad — comprising a joint military task force, the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies, has been deployed to various parts of the nation’s capital.
Addressing the team in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital on Tuesday, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye charged them to create the synergy required to eliminate crimes and criminalises across the FCT.
CP Dantawaye noted that “the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike who directed the operation has also provided enough logistics to ensure its success and guarantee adequate safety and security for residents.”
The CP who was supported by other heads of security agencies also announced that Service Chiefs and the IGP had given approval for the operation designed to address all criminalises, especially as the yuletide approaches.
CP Dantawaye disclosed that the team have been detailed to pay attention to the areas most vulnerable to kidnapping and banditry, ensuring safety for all residents.
“The FCT minister, Nyesom Wike has given complete support, especially in terms of logistics for this operation. He has given approval and I am sure that by the time we’ll be leaving here later, I mean today, the funds for fueling, for servicing of the vehicles and even allowances for the men will have dropped into an account that we can assess.
“On the influx of beggars into the city centre, the CP stated that the security agencies are collaborating with relevant departments of FCTA to tackle the menaces of street begging in Abuja,” he said.
CP Dantawaye said that while the legal requirements on the evacuation of street beggars are being perfected, anyone arrested in black spots would be profiled because some criminals often disguise themselves as beggars.
He said, “ We were trying to perfect our legal requirements to that effect before we can delve into that. But naturally, we wouldn’t want to have people loitering around the cities and by way of claiming that they are beggars. Because we know that amongst people that come, some of them that claim that they are beggars are not exactly beggars. Most people come with criminal intent.
“We’re going to profile them and see those we will take off the streets that are criminally minded, even if they claim they are beggars.”
CP Dantawaye added that there is need to look at the legal backing, working closely with Abuja environmental protection bodies to see if there’s a need for us to take them away from the streets or not.
Lateefah Ibrahim