FCT Security Task Force Cracks Down on Criminals Ahead of Festive Season

A special security task force, Operation Sweep, launched a comprehensive operation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday, targeting motor parks and strategic locations to root out criminal elements. The move aims to ensure a safe and secure environment during the Yuletide season. According to Mr. Adamu Gwary, Director of the Security Services Department, FCT Administration (FCTA), the operation is part of a broader effort to strengthen security throughout the festive period. Gwary, represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the Command and Control Centre, noted that the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has directed security agencies to rid the territory of all forms of criminality.

The operation has been successful, with continued monitoring of motor parks and the dismantling of illegal parks used by “one‑chance” criminal elements to abduct people. Shanties and other areas harboring criminals are also being destroyed. The goal is to create an environment where miscreants cannot operate, leaving no safe havens in the FCT. A significant number of arrests have been made, many shanties dismantled, and criminal operators posing as taxi drivers dislodged. In partnership with security agencies, the administration has deployed personnel to suspected black spots across the city to provide tight security during the festive period.

The FCTA has urged motor‑park operators and event centres to ensure that individuals without clear identities—especially motorists—do not operate among them. Mr. Adamu Abubakar, Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Jabi Motor Park, Abuja, commended the task force for helping to rid the city of “one‑chance” operators, stating that the move is sanitising the operation of transport workers in the FCT. The operation reinforces the FCTA’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents and visitors during the festive season and beyond. By targeting strategic locations and collaborating with security agencies, the administration aims to provide a secure environment for all, with continued efforts to prevent criminal activities and protect lives and property as the festive season approaches.