By Muhammad Mamman
The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has announced plans to inaugurate a special task force to tackle the menace of motor park touts and extortionists across the city centre, following a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives at Mabushi, Abuja.
According to reports, Emeka Ehekweme, his wife and son were travelling in a Toyota Highlander when they were pursued by three touts, locally known as “Nero”. The hoodlums forced their way into the moving vehicle and attempted to seize control of the steering wheel.
The car subsequently veered off the road, struck a parked Mazda and somersaulted into a bridge pillar. The crash proved fatal, killing the couple, their child, and two of the touts.
The shocking incident has sparked public outrage, with residents demanding tougher action against touts and impersonators who routinely harass motorists across the Federal Capital Territory.
Reacting on Monday, Kingsley Madaki, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the AMAC Chairman, condemned the act and extended condolences to the bereaved family. He stressed that the perpetrators were neither AMAC staff nor agents of the council.
“The executive chairman, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, has directed the inauguration of a strong task force to arrest anyone impersonating AMAC and extorting motorists. These people are not AMAC staff. They will be arrested, taken before a mobile court, and prosecuted immediately. Those found guilty will end up in Kuje Correctional Centre,” Madaki declared.
The task force is expected to begin operations in hotspots including Area 1 Roundabout, Area 2, Berger Underbridge, Jabi and Banex, where touting and extortion have become rampant.
Madaki further raised concerns about unauthorised groups falsely claiming to represent government agencies such as the FCTA Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
He also clarified that AMAC has no authority to issue motor park licences:
“It is the FCT Transport Secretariat that is empowered to issue, supervise and control such licences,” he stated.
The council’s decisive response is seen as an attempt to restore public confidence and safeguard residents from the growing menace of touts across Abuja.
