Operation sweep impound 40 vehicles and Arrested 400 persons in FCT
Operation Sweep, recently launched in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, has achieved notable results. In an update, Chief Superintendent of Police, Umar Kadiri, revealed that the operation had apprehended 400 individuals and confiscated 50 vehicles for various infractions. Kadiri conveyed this information during a press briefing in Abuja, coinciding with an operation aimed at dismantling illegal structures and dislodging street vendors.
The operation extended its reach to eradicate illegal motor parks, dismantle unlawful street structures, demolish scavenger dwellings, and set them ablaze. This extensive operation unfolded across locations including the Utako Ultra-Modern Market, A.E Ekukinam Street, Jabi Motor Park, and its surroundings, all aimed at maintaining cleanliness in Abuja.
Kadiri also noted that some of the offenders had faced legal consequences for their actions. This initiative falls under broader efforts to enhance environmental sanitation in the FCT, involving the removal of street vendors, the demolition of unauthorized structures, illegal parking lots, and the activities of scavengers.
He explained, "The clearance of roadside traders near markets was imperative as they obstructed traffic flow and marred the city's aesthetics. Beyond cleanliness, this action ensures smooth traffic flow on Abuja's streets, particularly in market areas where traders and their illegal structures had encroached."
Deputy Director of Monitoring and Enforcement at the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Mr. Kaka Bello, affirmed that this operation was part of an ongoing campaign to maintain the cleanliness of Abuja.
Operation Sweep FCT comprised representatives from various security agencies, including the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Immigration, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and Department of State Services, among others.
One of the affected scavengers, Mr. Mohammed Sani, acknowledged that they had been warned to vacate the area earlier but had returned in an attempt to make a living.
A resident, Ismail Haruna, praised the government for reclaiming the streets, expressing relief that illegal traders, who had taken over the city's major streets and erected unauthorized structures for various purposes, were being addressed.
