Follow Us on Google
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expanded its renewed Operation Sweep beyond Abuja’s central districts, launching enforcement actions in satellite communities to remove illegal settlements and uncompleted buildings alleged to shelter criminals.
Secretary of the FCTA Command and Control Centre, Peter Olumuji, said the campaign has shifted focus to “black spots” on the outskirts after receiving intelligence linking those areas to rising criminality. The enforcement team visited Wassa on Friday, as part of the suburban sweep.
“We have received a lot of intelligence reports about crime and criminality in these areas. Some of these locations have served as safe havens for criminal elements.
“That is why we are taking proactive steps to clear these hideouts and improve security across the FCT,” Olumuji told reporters on site.
Olumuji listed other targeted communities, including Karasana, Kugbo, Jikwoyi and Karshi, and said Development Control had previously marked many structures for removal.
Other News
“When you look at this critically, Development Control had already marked this place since February 25 this year. Enough notice was given to residents to vacate the area,” he added.
Officials said community leaders were engaged and occupants sensitised before enforcement began.
“Wassa is not in the city centre, yet we are here. The more we remove these hideouts, the more we improve security in the FCT,” Olumuji said, stressing that the drive would continue into border towns and other fast-growing outskirts.
Head of Enforcement at the Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Ukachi Adebayo, said the operation also includes social interventions for vulnerable people found in targeted locations. “We have evacuated over 800 destitute from different parts of Abuja.
“After evacuating them, we profile them and take them to our centre where we care for and train them before reintegrating them back into society.”
