Yuletide: FCTA’s ‘Operation Sweep’ Combs Motor Parks, Others To Flush Out Criminals

Operation Sweep, a special security task force of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, combed motor parks and other strategic locations in the FCT to flush out criminal elements.

Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, Mr Adamu Gwary, told journalists after the operation in Abuja on Monday that the move was to ensure a safe and secure yuletide season.

Gwary, who was represented by Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control Centre, said that the ongoing operation would strengthen security throughout the festive season.

He explained that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has given a marching order to the security agencies under the Operation Sweep to rid the Territory of every form of criminality.

He noted that the operation had been very successful, adding that it was being sustained through continued monitoring of motor parks.

The director also said that illegal motor parks being used by “one chance” criminal elements to abduct people were being dismantled.

“Also, any place harbouring criminal elements, including shanties, was being destroyed.

“We want to tell all miscreants and criminal elements in the FCT, that the Territory will be too hot for them to operate.

“We don’t have a safe haven for criminals in FCT anymore and they should take note of that,” he said.

He added that a lot of arrests have been made, a lot of shanties dismantled, and criminal elements operating as taxi drivers dislodged.

The goal, according to him, was to ensure the safety of lives and property of every resident in the FCT during the festive season and beyond.

He said that the Administration, in partnership with security agencies, had also deployed men and officers to suspected blackspots across the city to provide tight security during the festive period.

He called on operators of motor parks and event centres to ensure that those without clear identity, especially motorists, do not operate among them.

Mr Adamu Abubakar, chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jabi Motor Park, Abuja, commended the task force for helping to rid the city of ‘One Chance’ operators.

Abubakar said that the move was helping to sanitise the operation of transport workers in the FCT.