NIGERIA: FCT Minister Wike Establishes Task Force To Tackle Criminal Hideouts, Vandalism

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria  

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the establishment of a Special Task Force to clear criminal elements from uncompleted structures, abandoned plots, and buildings across Abuja.

This directive, aimed at enhancing security and curbing vandalism of government assets, was disclosed by the Director of the Department of Security Services, FCT Administration, Mr. Adamu Gwary, during an interview in Abuja on Wednesday.

Gwary revealed that the FCT Security Committee identified uncompleted and abandoned structures as major hideouts for miscreants responsible for theft and vandalism.

He stated that the Commissioner of Police in the FCT has been tasked with assembling a task team to implement the minister’s directive.

“The task force will address not only the Pantaker markets but also all locations where intelligence has identified scavengers and criminal hideouts, including uncompleted and abandoned structures,” Gwary said.

He added that strategic efforts to clear these hideouts would begin within two to three weeks, ensuring that criminal elements have no base for coordinating attacks or vandalising infrastructure.

To further enhance security, Gwary said the FCTA Land Department is conducting a census of undeveloped plots in the FCT as directed by Minister Wike.

Owners of such plots have been ordered to either develop their land or risk revocation of their allocations.

“The Land and other related departments are diligently addressing the security issues caused by undeveloped plots and their misuse as hideouts for criminals,” he stated.

The minister has also directed the acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to secure all under-bridges in Abuja.

Gwary noted that the FCDA boss has been asked to prepare a detailed submission on the resources required to prevent miscreants from using these areas as shelters.

In a related development, the FCT Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities by conducting daily raids on identified hotspots in Abuja.

According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the ongoing operations aim to combat crime and protect both public and private infrastructure.