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
