By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has assured residents that it will continue the clearance of shanties and parks, serving as hideouts for criminals in the territory.

Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media gave the assurance in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

Olayinka said that the FCTA, with other security agencies, had on Aug. 6 commenced a city-wide cleanup exercise of all identified criminal hideouts across the capital city.

He said that the move, designed to remove criminal hideouts, and restore sanity and security to Abuja city, was in accordance with Abuja’s Development Control Regulations and public safety protocols.

He said that the FCTA Development Control, Security Services Department and Directorate of Road Transport Services have already cleared some areas identified as major threats to the capital’s security and aesthetic standards.

He said that the exercise, which involved removing illicit structures, impounding vehicles, and seizing weapons, was being followed up with a mop-up operation to ensure criminal elements do not return.

The spokesman added that the demolition of Jazz and Blues Entertainment at Panorama Recreational Park, Wuse Zone 3, was part of the clean-up exercise.

“Intelligence obtained and verified through several surveillance and undercover investigations of these locations, amongst which was the Jazz and Blues Entertainment, was that a segment of the park containing shanties and batchers had evidence of sustained criminal activity tied to organised networks operating within the FCT,” he said.

He explained that contrary to claims of abrupt action, the FCTA Department of Development Control had issued several Contravention Notices to the Park’s Management prior to the exercise.

He added that in February 2024, a formal notice was issued to inform the park operator of the identified infractions and was followed by three formal notices between October 2024 and June 2025.

He said that the final eviction order was served on July 25, 2025.
“However, these Contravention Notices issued by the FCTA were completely ignored.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the FCTA wishes to state that the main facilities/activities within the park (i.e. the football field, its viewing platforms, the Gymnasium area, and several other facilities) were unaffected and remain functional following the removal of these criminal elements from the park.

“While the FCTA acknowledges and respects the military service of retired Air Commodore Balogun Abayomi, one of the Management of the park, it reiterates that national service is not a license for any individual to harbour criminal elements/activities, and endanger the general public.

“Not minding any orchestrated media reports, the FCTA will continue with the city-wide cleanup exercise in the coming weeks.

“This shall be extended to other districts within the city with a view to achieve the administration’s goal of building a city where its residents will be safe to live, work and recreate,” he said.

Olayinka said that the operation was a targeted public safety intervention based on credible intelligence, and not an act of persecution against anyone.

“Security agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), identified several locations and facilities that serve as a criminal hideout and safe haven across the Federal Capital City.

“Notable in these areas were the Banana Green Belt, extending from the Central Mosque area towards Zone 3 and Zone 1 of Wuse District, including Area 10 corridor.

“In these areas, innocent citizens are assaulted by assailants who then run to seek refuge within the surrounding Banana Green Belt/vegetation cover to escape arrest,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba
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