Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has arrested five suspected drug peddlers under a flyover in Wuse area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Combined team of the FCT minister’s taskforce team spotted the five suspected criminals who took to their heels, but were apprehend by some security officers nearby. Some raps of them Indian hemp were found on them.
Senior special assistant on monitoring, inspection, and enforcement to the FCT minister, Ikharo Attah decried the illegal use of flyovers, especially the destruction of the flyover by food vendors and those living in there, which he said poses danger to residents.
“We went round all the bridges in the city center, and we were very shocked at what we saw. We saw massive settlements, a massive business community, and eroded soil. We also saw the bridges heavily smoked, due to the activities of food vendors, and welding work going on.
“People are living under bridges, and we arrested five guys with Indian hemp, carpentry and charcoal sales business done under the bridge. The five guys arrested would be taken for investigation. This is part of the Abuja clean-up and we will sustain it,” Attah said when he was speaking with reporters yesterday.
The head of monitoring and enforcement in Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Mr. Kaka Bello, lamented the huge environmental degradation ongoing under the flyover bridges in the city center.
He said public properties that belong to the general public were being destroyed by a few people who illegally occupy the overpass flyovers. “We are here to stop all illegal activities under the bridges, and we have arrested some people and they will be charged to court.
“Apart from degradation, and destruction of public properties, we also have issues of insecurity. A lot of miscreants are living under the bridge,” he said.
