FCT minister, Nyesom Wike has directed the immediate beefing up of security around Abuja, with improved surveillance at all borders with neighbouring states.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, who announced the development on Tuesday, said the Operation Sweep Squad composed of a joint military taskforce, Police, DSS and other security agencies have been deployed to different parts of the territory.
Dantawaye stated that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had charged the squad to create the synergy required to eliminate crimes and criminalises across the FCT.
He noted that the FCT Administration has also provided enough logistics to ensure the success of the operation and guarantee adequate safety and security for residents.
The Commissioner of Police who was supported by other heads of security agencies, also announced that Service Chiefs and the IGP had given approval for the operation designed to address all criminalises, especially as the yuletide approaches.
He disclosed that the team has been detailed to pay attention to the areas most vulnerable to kidnapping and banditry, ensuring safety for all residents.
“The FCT minister, his excellency Nyesom Wike, has given complete support, especially in terms of logistics for this operation.
He has given approval and I am sure that by the time we'll be leaving here later, I mean today, the funds for fueling, for servicing of the vehicles and even allowances for the men will have dropped into an account that we can assess.
On the influx of beggars into the city centre, the CP stated that the security agencies are collaborating with relevant departments of FCTA to tackle the menaces of street begging in Abuja.
He added that while the legal requirements on the evacuation of street beggars are being perfected, anyone arrested in black spots would be profiled because some criminals often disguise themselves as beggars.
He said, “ We were trying to perfect our legal requirements to that effect before we can delve into that.
But naturally, we wouldn't want to have people loitering around the cities and by way of claiming that they are beggars.
Because we know that amongst people that come, some of them that claim that they are beggars are not exactly beggars. Most people come with criminal intent.
"We're going to profile them and see those we will take off the streets that are criminally minded, even if they claim they are beggars.
But for the beggars, well, we work closely, like I told you, looking at the legal backing, working closely with Abuja environmental protection bodies to see if there's a need for us to take them away from the streets or not," he said.
