The Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) has revealed that as part of its ongoing crackdown on criminally minded drivers in Abuja, it has seized over 700 vehicles for offences such as improper tinting of glass, the use of fake license plates, and other traffic infractions.
Adamu Gwary, the Director of the FCTA Department of Security Services, revealed the information on Monday during a late-night stop-and-search operation at the Karu axis of the FCT and Apo-Wassa junction.
The activity is the second stage of Operation Sweep Abuja Clean, a multi-agency effort to reduce “one-chance” thefts and recover stolen vehicles, according to Gwary, who was represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the Command and Control Centre.
“As at now in Operation Sweep, we have impounded over 700 vehicles from both the first and second phases.
“The operation has drastically reduced the incidence of one chance to the barest minimum.
“Our stop-and-search exercise has made it clear to criminals that no matter where they are in the FCT, the team will always reach them,” he said.
He further explained that intelligence gathered from victims revealed that most vehicles used in “one-chance” robberies were illegally tinted, unregistered, or bore fake number plates.
Gwary stressed that criminals use tinted glasses to hide their actions and cautioned drivers, especially commercial drivers, against doing so.
“We are seeing people who are into businesses using tinted glass.
“Most of the victims that we have interrogated who have fallen victim of one chance, they always let us know that the vehicles they boarded are tinted,” he added.
He revealed that the task force had recovered seven stolen cars in the past week alone and urged residents to put up with the brief disruptions brought on by the stop-and-search procedures, pointing out that the actions were taken to protect people and property.
Speaking as well, Deborah Osho, Head of Operations, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, emphasised that the joint task force has stepped up efforts to purge Abuja of unregistered and unpainted cabs that are frequently connected to illegal activity.
According to her, a number of cars had been seized for traffic violations, such as using number plates that weren’t meant for their cars or driving against the flow of traffic.
“Most of the one-chance vehicles either have fake number plates not traceable to the actual vehicles, or operate as unpainted taxis, making it difficult to identify them.
“Today in Karu, you can see the huge number of vehicles apprehended. This is sending a clear message that Abuja is too hot for criminals,” Osho stated.
Both officials urged citizens to work with law enforcement for a safer FCT and reassured everyone that the crackdown will last until traffic on the city’s roads returns to normal.
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