City Sanitation - News Agency Of Nigeria

Philip Daniel Yatai
Aug, Thu, 2025

FCTA continues onslaught on criminal hideouts in Abuja

By Philip Yatai

The City Sanitation Taskforce of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished a criminal hideout in Apo Resettlement, Abuja, in continuation of its ongoing onslaught on criminal hideouts across the capital city.

Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, who heads the operation told journalists during the exercise on Thursday, that the location had been contributing to the insecurity in Apo and environs.

Galadima described the area as one of the identified “dark spots” inhabited by criminal elements in the city, with reported killings by miscreants living in the area.

This, according to him, had made the area a huge security threat to other residents.

“This is part of the continuation of the city sanitation operations to rid the city of criminal elements.

“This place has been identified as one of the notorious dark spots in the city and we are here to clear the area to make it safe for residents.

“There are credible and verifiable security and intelligence reports about these locations. In fact, there were instances where some people were even killed around this area.

“So, for the fact that this place was identified as a dark spot, it’s enough for it to be demolished, cleared and removed everything, including the fence.

He said that the step was part of the FCTA’ s measures to keep miscreants away from green areas and empty plots of land.

Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, confirmed that residents of the area had been complaining about criminal activities in the area.

Gwary, who was represented by the Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Dr Peter Olumuji said that apart from a safe haven for suspected armed robbers, illicit drug peddling also thrive in the area.

“Some few weeks ago, there was an attack on residents and the criminals hid in the area.

“Over 50 armed robbers came here to attack the residents here, but the quick response from the FCT Police Command and sister agencies prevented that attack from snowballing”, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the taskforce on Aug. 6, demolished illegal structures and shanties in Wuse Zone 3, and moved to UTC for a similar exercise on Monday.

The taskforce also demolished illegal structures and shanties, popularly known as “Cashew Garden” in Apo Cadastral Zone E27, Abuja, on Tuesday.(NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

City sanitation: FCTA clears illegal occupants, traders around UTC

Philip Daniel Yatai
Aug, Mon, 2025

Metro

City sanitation: FCTA clears illegal occupants, traders around UTC

By Philip Yatai

The City Sanitation Operation of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, cleared illegal occupants and traders around UTC, in Area 10, Abuja.

Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Development Control, who heads the operation, explained that the exercise was directed by the FCT Security Committee.

Galadima said that the goal was to enforce sanity and rid the city of criminal elements.

He explained that the UTC was one of the areas identified as dark spots harbouring criminal elements.

He explained that the team equally evacuated a pile of refuse that were left unattended, raising serious health concerns.

“So, as part of city sanitation, we have to clear that site first before coming to the main area where the hoodlooms are.

“On getting here, we have seen what is really disturbing and alarming. So, something serious has to be done,” he said.

He explained that the space taken over by the illegal occupants and traders was designated as a transit corridor in the Abuja Master Plan.

He said that based on Land Use Plan for Phase I and Garki District, the area was part of the the transitway corridor.

The director described the transitway corridor as a “system” that runs across the city, from UTC, and passes behind Abuja Municipal Area Council Secretariat and Ministry of Defence towards Wuse Zone 3.

He said that the corridor had not been developed yet but being maintained and protected against any form of intrution by land grabbers.

He said that after the clearance, the area would be fenced as directed by the FCT Security Committee and only allow usage that would be friendly to city development, particularly transportation.

This, according to him, will ensure that the illegal occupants do not return to the site again.

On his part, Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, said that the clearance operation was focused on identifying locations that criminals were hibernating and attacking residents.

Gwary, who was represented by the Secretary, Command and Control, Dr Peter Olumuji, disclosed that the rate of crime had reduced in locations that have been cleared since the exercise began a week ago.

He said that the city sanitation exercise was ongoing side by side Operation Sweep Abuja, adding that several criminals have been arrested while several shanties have been cleared. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru