The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
has announced plans to clear illegal settlements in Abuja following the arrest
of over 120 miscreants, including drug peddlers, one-chance operators,
carjackers, and armed robbers, in shanties located in Area 1, Durumi District.
The move forms part of an ongoing crackdown on
criminal hideouts across the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Lere
Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media,
said the FCTA was deeply concerned about the rising security threats in parts
of Durumi, particularly the Area 1 axis of Garki District.
“High-level criminal activities such as robbery,
carjacking, drug peddling, and other heinous crimes with their attendant
security implications to law-abiding FCT residents cannot be allowed to
continue,” Olayinka said.
120 Miscreants Arrested
Olayinka explained that the shanties in Durumi had
become operational bases for criminals. He recalled that three months ago,
security agencies raided the area in an operation lasting over three hours,
leading to the arrest of more than 120 suspects.
“Among those arrested were drug peddlers, one-chance
operators, carjackers, and armed robbers,” he noted.
The raid also led to the recovery of several stolen
items, including vehicles, 79 stolen motorcycles, and 155 Automated Teller
Machine (ATM) cards snatched from victims of one-chance operators who used the
settlement as their base.
Stakeholders’ Committee and Security Strategy
To restore order, Olayinka said FCT Minister Nyesom
Wike set up a Stakeholders Committee comprising heads of security agencies,
FCTA officials, civil society groups, and representatives of the Nigeria Union
of Journalists (NUJ).
The committee identified that the presence of illegal
shanties in Durumi not only poses a security risk but also obstructs land
development projects, preventing both government agencies and private allottees
from using their land.
Return of Shanties Despite Previous Clearance
Although illegal structures in Area 1 and Durumi had
been demolished in earlier exercises, Olayinka confirmed that many of them
resurfaced, allowing criminals to regroup.
“The return of these shanties has made the area
dangerous for law-abiding residents,” he said, adding that some of the lands
had been allocated over 20 years ago but could not be developed due to illegal
occupation.
He stressed that the FCTA is already clearing shanties
across the City Centre, and those in Area 1 and Durumi will be cleared very
soon as part of broader measures to restore safety and order in the capital
city.
Background
The latest move follows a string of demolition
exercises across Abuja. In November 2024, the FCTA revealed it had demolished 11,705
shanty colonies between January and October. The exercise, led by Mukhtar
Galadima, Director of Development Control, also cleared obstructing structures
on waterways in Lugbe, Jahi, and Lokogoma to curb flooding.
Galadima noted that the operations created 13,873
direct and indirect jobs.
Most recently, the FCTA pulled down illegal
settlements known as “Cashew Garden” in the Apo Cadastral Zone E27 of Abuja,
after the area became a hotspot for criminal activities.
The FCTA has also warned that land allocations may be
revoked from plot owners who allow unauthorized settlements, especially those
serving as criminal hideouts.
Comments:
Leave a Reply