FCTA Storms Wuse, Seizes Weapons and 20 Vehicles in Crime Crackdown

A joint taskforce under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) conducted a major security sweep in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, dismantling makeshift structures and recovering dangerous weapons from suspected criminal elements operating in the area.

The operation, carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, August 6, 2025, proceeded despite heavy rainfall. It was led by the Director of the Department of Development Control, Tpl. Muktar Galadima, as part of a broader initiative to enhance safety and restore urban order in the capital city.

Galadima explained that the cleared location had long been identified as a hotspot for illicit activities and posed significant security risks. The action, he said, was in line with a directive issued by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, mandating intensified efforts to eliminate criminal hideouts and illegal encroachments.

“We have cleared an area that had become a security concern and detracted from the city’s aesthetics,” Galadima stated, adding that the land in question had been illegally occupied and was originally earmarked in the Abuja master plan for infrastructure development, similar to the Inner Northern Expressway.

He urged property owners to promptly begin developing their lands in accordance with approved guidelines, warning that idle plots could be subject to government revocation.

The Director of the Department of Security Services, Adamu Gwary, represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, corroborated that intelligence reports had confirmed the area was being used as a criminal hideout. He displayed confiscated weapons, including machetes, which were allegedly used in violent attacks on unsuspecting residents and motorists.

“These criminals typically strike passers-by, robbing them and inflicting injuries with these weapons,” Olumuji noted. “The location also offers them quick escape routes through the National Mosque and Zone 1 bridges.”

Further supporting the operation, the Head of Operations at the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Deborah Osho, reported that approximately 20 vehicles were impounded. She disclosed that several of the seized vehicles had been linked to “one-chance” robberies — a notorious tactic where unsuspecting passengers are lured, robbed, and sometimes assaulted.

Osho affirmed that none of the vehicles would be released until proper documentation and penalties were enforced, stressing the agency’s commitment to clearing the streets of vehicles associated with criminal activities.

A follow-up operation has been scheduled for Thursday, as authorities continue efforts to restore order and uphold public safety in the capital.