By Francesca Hangeior

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed the establishment of a Special Task Force to dislodge criminal elements hiding in uncompleted structures, abandoned plots of land, and buildings across the territory.

The Director of the Department of Security Services, FCT Administration, Mr. Adamu Gwary, who disclosed this in Abuja explained that this measure is aimed at curbing the menace of miscreants vandalising government assets and infrastructure.

He said that the FCT Security Committee had identified uncompleted structures, abandoned plots of land, and buildings as some of the hideouts for miscreants.

“The Commissioner of Police in the FCT has been mandated to work with his colleagues to form a task team to address this issue,” he said.

“They made a submission to the Minister on Tuesday regarding the financing of the exercise, which will cover not only Pantaker markets but also locations where scavengers are hiding. These include uncompleted and abandoned structures and any other location that intelligence has identified as a hideout for miscreants.”

The director said that in the next two to three weeks, there would be strategic efforts to clear all criminal hideouts in the FCT and other locations used by criminals to carry out their activities.

According to him, all uncompleted buildings, abandoned plots of land, and structures would be identified and cleared.

“This measure will ensure that criminal elements do not have a hiding place where they can organise to attack or vandalise our infrastructure or rob residents,” he said.

Regarding undeveloped lands, Gwary said that the FCTA Land Department is currently conducting a census of all undeveloped plots in the FCT, as directed by the Minister.

He recalled that Wike had directed owners of undeveloped plots to either develop their land or face revocation of their allocations.

He explained that if implemented, this measure would significantly address security concerns related to undeveloped plots, growing bushes, and their use as hideouts for criminals.

“The Land and other related departments are working diligently on addressing the security problems caused by undeveloped plots of land,” he said.

The director also revealed that the FCT Minister had directed the acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority to take control of all under-bridges in the FCT.

“The Minister has directed the acting FCDA boss to make a submission on what it will take to secure all under-bridges in the territory.

“The idea is to deny miscreants access to such locations, which they use as hideouts,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Police Command in the FCT has commenced daily raids on identified criminal hotspots in Abuja.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said in a statement that the effort was aimed at combating criminal activities and protecting public and private infrastructure in the territory.

By Francesca Hangeior
 

The South African Border Management Authority has temporarily closed a key border crossing with Botswana due to heavy rainfall and flooding.

The Grobler’s Bridge crossing in northern South Africa is used for trade, especially by miners in the Copperbelt region straddling Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo moving cargo to the port of Durban.

The authority said in a statement that “following consultations with our Botswana counterparts and thorough deliberation by the Port Management Committee, it has been decided that the temporary suspension of operations is necessary to prioritise safety.’’

The agency urged travelers and truck operators to use alternative routes.

The crossing links Botswana with SA northern Limpopo province, which witnessed heavy rainfall last weekend.