The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has vowed to clear up all illegal settlements and shanties harbouring criminals across the capital territory.
It disclosed that these illegal shanties are hampering developmental projects across the FCT.
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said: “The ongoing onslaught on criminal hideouts in Abuja will continue.”
Olayinka identified areas of concern and security threats to include parts of Durumi District, particularly Area 1 in Garki District.
In a statement he signed on Monday, Olayinka said Wike has setup a Stakeholders Committee, comprising heads of security agencies, FCTA officials, Civil Society Organisations, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ), and others to ensure the safety of Abuja.
He said: “High level criminal activities such as robbery, carjacking, drug peddling and other heinous crimes with its attendant security implications to law abiding FCT residents cannot be allowed to continue.”
Olayinka said it was identified at the committee meeting that apart from preventing land allottees from making use of their lands, and government from carrying out developmental projects, the shanties in Area 1, Durumi have become operational base for criminals, especially kidnappers, drug peddlers and one-chance operators.
Three months ago, no fewer than 120 miscreants were arrested in Durumi and Area 1 during a security operation.
During the operation, security agencies arrested drug peddlers, one-chance operators, car-jackers, and armed robbers.
Seven stolen vehicles, and 79 stolen motorcycles were recovered, while 155 ATM cards were recovered. These ATM cards were those snatched from victims of one-chance operators, using the settlement as their base.
