By Sarah NEGEDU
Security agencies operating in the Federal Capital Territory have arrested 273 destitute and impounded 675 vehicles for various traffic offences, in it’s ongoing drive at reducing crimes and environmental nuisance within the city.
Briefing journalists on the outcome of the security meeting on Tuesday, FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, said the committee has also resolved to intensify enforcement against scavengers, illegal motor parks, and roadside markets across Abuja.
This is as the FCT Security Committee disclosed plans to intensify enforcement against illegal mining activities springing up around the FCT, which constitutes serious security threats to the territory.
The CP while giving an update on efforts by the Operation Sweep to rid the city of beggars and criminal elements, said, “As we speak, more than 273 destitutes are in the Social Development Secretariat Centre in Bwari undergoing profiling. Their welfare has been taken care of, and they need to be relocated to where they belong.
“Within the same period, more than 670 vehicles were impounded, relating to issues of improper documentation, tinted glasses, which we all know is not acceptable here, issues of covered number plates and commercial operations without an appropriate license.
“In the course of this operation, we have offences that relate to drug peddling, we have offences that have to do with destitute and illegal begging. For those found committing offence that relate to drug peddling, they have been handed over to the NDLEA”, he said.
He said the FCT Administration will also be paying close attention to issues of illegal IDP camps, proliferation of shanties, street beggars and traffic offences within the FCT.
The CP added that the FCT Minister has tasked the security agencies to rid the FCT of identified security concerns that pose a threat to the security of lives and properties in the FCT.
He said, “Specifically, the issue of shanties springing up everywhere in the FCT has been of concern and importance to the Honourable Minister. We equally have the issue of these beggars, destitute all over the city which we have been addressing and he has tasked the Service Commander to continue addressing the situation to see that we rid the whole of FCT streets of all these miscreants that are constituting threats to the environment.
“We have equally seen people taking undue advantage of certain situations, constituting themselves into illegal IDP camps. Such is not recognised within the FCT, and have been identified where people need to be profiled, and if you have reasons to be here, you will be, and if you have no reason to be in the FCT, we will relocate you to where you belong.”
On the activities of illegal miners, Ajao said the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate closure of illegal mining sites in Abuja.
According to him, “The issue of illegal mining springing up around the city has equally been of concern, and you would understand the security implications of this. He (FCT Minister) has given a directive that those illegal mining must be shut down”.
