The Director of the Department of Security Services, FCT Administration, Mr. Adamu Gwary, disclosed this initiative during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed the establishment of a Special Task Force to eliminate criminal elements hiding in uncompleted structures, abandoned plots of land, and buildings across the FCT.
The Director of the Department of Security Services, FCT Administration, Mr. Adamu Gwary, disclosed this initiative during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Gwary explained that the measure aims to curb the activities of miscreants responsible for vandalising government assets and infrastructure, adding that the FCT Security Committee had identified these areas as hideouts for criminal activities.
“The Commissioner of Police in the FCT has been mandated to work with his colleagues to form a task team to address this issue,” Gwary said.
He stated that the team had presented a financial plan to the minister for the operation, which will cover not just Pantaker markets but also other locations identified through intelligence reports as havens for criminals.
“In the next two to three weeks, there will be strategic efforts to clear all criminal hideouts in the FCT, including uncompleted buildings, abandoned plots of land, and other locations used by criminals,” Gwary assured.
He emphasised that these actions aim to ensure that miscreants are denied safe spaces from which they can operate, protecting residents from attacks and the vandalism of infrastructure.
In addressing undeveloped lands, Gwary revealed that the FCTA Land Department is conducting a census of all undeveloped plots as directed by the minister. He recalled that Wike had warned owners of undeveloped plots to either develop their land or risk having their allocations revoked.
“This measure will significantly address security concerns linked to undeveloped plots, growing bushes, and their use as hideouts for criminals,” he said.
Gwary also highlighted the minister's directive for the acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to secure under-bridge areas across the FCT.
“The minister has instructed the FCDA to make a detailed proposal on securing all under-bridges in the territory to deny miscreants access to these locations.
“The idea is to deny miscreants access to such locations, which they use as hideouts,” he said.
The initiative forms part of the minister’s broader plan to improve security and ensure a safer environment for residents of the Federal Capital Territory.