The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced a comprehensive operation to rid Abuja and its satellite towns of street beggars, traders, scavengers, and criminal elements following directives from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The initiative, officially named "Operation Sweep Abuja of Miscreants, Street Beggars/Traders, Scavengers and Other Criminal Elements," was announced on Wednesday through a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, the Minister's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media.
According to the statement, the operation is being implemented in accordance with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act and other relevant laws. The Minister emphasized that the nation's capital should represent security, pride, and beauty rather than being overrun by street beggars and scavengers, many of whom he described as potential agents of criminal elements.
"In line with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act and other relevant laws, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has directed the immediate evacuation of miscreants, street beggars and traders, scavengers and other criminal elements from the FCT," the statement read.
"Our nation's capital should be a secure symbol of pride and beauty, not a site for street beggars and scavengers, most of whom are agents of criminal elements," it continued.
To implement this directive, a Joint Task Force comprising security agencies and relevant FCT Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (SDAs) has been deployed. The task force has been instructed to arrest individuals found begging, scavenging, loitering, or engaging in activities deemed harmful to public order and safety.
Those apprehended will undergo profiling before being repatriated to their respective state governments, according to the statement.
The Minister stressed the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring security across the Federal Capital Territory. "The security of lives and property of residents of the FCT is of paramount importance to the government. We must all join hands to achieve a safer Abuja," Wike stated.
He urged residents to report suspicious movements to the provided emergency numbers: 08061581938 and 08032003913, emphasizing that "Security is my job, your job and our job."
This initiative forms part of broader efforts by the FCT Administration under Wike's leadership to restore order, enhance the aesthetic appeal, and improve safety across the Federal Capital Territory.
The operation specifically targets "one chance" syndicates, who are known for robbing passengers in taxis, as well as other criminal elements that have been causing concern among residents in recent months.
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