The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) joint taskforce yesterday raided some uncompleted buildings and undeveloped plots in Maitama and Wuse II areas of Abuja suspected to be criminal hideouts, arresting 480 suspected criminals.
The commander of the team, Bennett Igweh after the arrest, said the suspects were apprehended following the efforts of the taskforce in combing black spots within the FCT.
He said the suspects had turned green areas, undeveloped plots and unoccupied houses into their haven for criminal activities and that the team would stop at nothing in riding the city of criminal elements that threaten the peace of residents.
Igweh disclosed that items recovered from them include police uniforms, mobile phones, a loaded pistol, matchetes and charms and that they would be profiled and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary actions.
“We will do thorough profiling because we are suspecting that there could be escapees from Kuje Correctional Centre. We are starting from the city centre, and we will expand it to other areas, the exercise will reach 21 satellite villages and towns; from Kabusa, Gishiri, Waru, to Wasa and others.
“This operation is one that the security agencies have started since, we are about to start Operation G-7 but we want to clear the city centre of criminals. We have agreed to do it together.
“We started by 1:00 am today, and by about 3 am, this is what we were able to do. The suspects specialised in robbery; they have different security uniforms, and we caught them in police uniforms. It’s just regrettable.
“In one of the camps, we recovered a fully loaded pistol because we took them by surprise, that was why we were able to recover what we had recovered. We will continue to take them by surprise, as this operation will not stop. We have started it this midnight, and we will continue. We have asked them to leave the town as they are not supposed to be here,” he said.
