By Muhammad Mamman
In a decisive move to restore order and enhance safety in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), authorities have removed 273 destitute individuals from Abuja’s streets and impounded 670 vehicles over the past four months as part of the high-profile Operation Sweep.
The initiative, led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, targets street crime, traffic violations, and urban disorder to elevate the capital’s safety and aesthetic standards.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Wale Ajao, revealed these developments during a press briefing following a Security Committee Meeting at the Minister’s residence on Tuesday.
He confirmed that the 273 individuals, now under care at the Social Development Secretariat Centre in Bwari, are undergoing profiling to determine their origins and facilitate their relocation.
“Their welfare is being addressed, but those with no legitimate reason to remain in the FCT will be relocated,” Ajao stated firmly.
The operation has also seen robust enforcement against traffic violations, with 670 vehicles seized for offences including improper documentation, tinted windows, obscured number plates, and unlicensed commercial operations.
Ajao added that individuals caught peddling drugs have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.
Operation Sweep: A Mission to Reclaim Abuja’s Streets
Launched by Minister Wike, Operation Sweep is a strategic campaign to eradicate beggars, scavengers, “one-chance” robbery gangs, and other criminal elements from the capital.
The initiative, bolstered by a recent Federal High Court ruling dismissing objections to the removal of beggars, underscores the administration’s commitment to restoring safety and order.
Looking ahead, Ajao announced tougher measures in the next phase, including stricter enforcement of traffic regulations.
“Driving against traffic or with obscured number plates endangers lives and will face severe consequences,” he warned.
Crackdown on Illegal Activities Intensifies
Minister Wike has also ordered an immediate clampdown on illegal mining operations, shanties, and unauthorised Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the FCT.
Ajao noted that individuals in these camps will be profiled, with those lacking valid reasons for displacement relocated to their places of origin.
“The proliferation of shanties is a pressing concern, and we are committed to clearing these threats to the environment,” he said.
The police will also roll out comprehensive measures to document traffic offenders, targeting violations like one-way driving and obscured licence plates, which Ajao described as “life-threatening infractions.”
