By Sarah NEGEDU
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has dismissed widespread allegations that its operatives are providing cover for motor park touts who have become a menace on Abuja roads.
Residents and motorists in the city have repeatedly accused the police of looking the other way while touts harass drivers, extort money and unleash violence under the guise of enforcing traffic rules or collecting levies for area councils and transport unions.
The public outcry reached boiling point after the recent death of an innocent couple in Mabushi, Abuja, following a violent clash linked to the activities of the illegal enforcers.
However, addressing the controversy at the Command Headquarters over the weekend, the Commissioner of Police, Adewale Ajao, insisted that the police were not shielding the touts and would not tolerate any group that endangers lives.
“On the day of the incident, operatives were mobilised to the location. Unfortunately, we lost the couple. Similarly, two of the touts lost their lives during the unfortunate event. One is still recuperating in hospital, and the investigation into the incident is 75 percent complete,” Ajao said.
The CP who stressed that revenue collection could never justify the loss of human life, disclosed that all Divisional Police Officers had been placed on high alert to ensure the menace is stamped out.
“Meanwhile, we have engaged with the leadership of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, and the transport unions. No amount of revenue is worth the life of an individual. All Divisional Police Officers are on high alert to ensure that the menace of motor park touts is eradicated from our streets. That is what we are doing, and that is what we will enforce — no two ways about it. Humanity comes first,” he declared.
Meanwhile, Ajao also spoke on the rescue of malnourished children discovered in an unmarked orphanage in the FCT. He described the discovery as “an act of man’s inhumanity to man,” noting that the operation followed intelligence reports and collaboration with human rights groups.
“What we witnessed was an act of man’s inhumanity to man. We received intelligence and, in collaboration with human rights groups, located the place where these children were rescued. They appeared acutely malnourished.
“The children have been handed over to the welfare department in AMAC, and even items meant for their care were discovered and also handed over to the department.”
The CP said. appealed to residents to remain vigilant and share timely information with the police, stressing that such collaboration was vital to tackling crime and rescuing vulnerable citizens.
