Abuja: The City Sanitation Taskforce of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished a criminal hideout in Apo Resettlement, Abuja, as part of its ongoing efforts to eliminate criminal hideouts across the capital city.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control and head of the operation, explained to journalists during the exercise that the location had been contributing to the insecurity in Apo and its surrounding areas. Galadima described the area as a ‘dark spot’ inhabited by criminal elements, with reported killings by miscreants living there, posing a significant security threat to other residents.

He emphasized that the demolition is part of the city sanitation operations aimed at making the city safe for residents by removing criminal elements from identified hotspots. He stated that credible and verifiable security reports had identified the area as a notorious dark spot, warranting its demolition.

Mr. Adamu Gwary, Director of the Security Services Department, FCTA, confirmed that residents had been complaining about criminal activities in the area. Represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the Command and Control Centre, Gwary highlighted that the area served as a haven for suspected armed robbers and illicit drug activities. He cited a recent instance where a coordinated attack by over 50 armed robbers was thwarted by the quick response from the FCT Police Command and sister agencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the taskforce had previously demolished illegal structures and shanties in Wuse Zone 3 and continued with similar exercises at UTC and ‘Cashew Garden’ in Apo Cadastral Zone E27, Abuja.