FCT Police, Joint Task Force Recover Goods Worth N1bn During Raid on Shanties; Arrest Suspects

By Goodluck Ikiebe.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command and other security agencies in operation war against criminality in the nation’s capital have recovered stolen goods worth one billion naira (N1bn) from their receivers and arrested thirty one suspects during the raid on shanties.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, told newsmen on Friday, 31st January, 2025, that, members of the task force who carried out the operations include the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services DSS, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Abuja Environmental Protection Agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Abuja Development Control (ADC).

He explained that notable markets raided by the joint task force, include Dei-Dei Pantaker, Kabusa Pantaker, Dei-Dei Outward Lane Pantaker, Zuba Pantaker, Mpape Pantaker, Jabi Pantaker and Nyanya Pantaker.

According to him, the criminal activity of scavengers not only poses a significant threat to public safety but also disrupts the provision of essential amenities and jeopardizes critical infrastructure.

Some items recovered by the team as listed by CP Disu include, 115 units of manhole with the inscription ‘Not for Sale’, five motorcycles, huge volume of cables, cut to size electric-transformers, bundles of cables, a huge volume of fiber optic materials, copper wires and rubber insulators.

Other items recovered were 12 large-size solar panels, large quantities of iron rods (22 mm rods), documents related to vehicles with unverifiable ownership, fake, fabricated Mercedes Benz chassis numbers, industrial solar batteries, solar panels, weighing scales and vehicle rims among others.

Below is the extract of briefing by CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu:

Ladies and gentlemen of the Press,
We are pleased to highlight the outstanding accomplishments in our relentless effort against the scourge of vandalism plaguing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This
insidious criminal activity not only undermines the very fabric of our society but also poses significant threats to public safety, disrupts the provision of essential amenities, and jeopardises the integrity of our critical infrastructure.

Through the collective efforts of all security agencies, we have made substantial strides
in combating this menace, and today’s achievements serve as a testament to our
unwavering commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our citizens and protecting
the vital assets that underpin our nation’s prosperity.

In a bold move to tackle the menace of vandalism and theft of public infrastructure, on January 13, 2025, the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bar. Nyesom Wike, CON, convened a crucial FCT Core-Security Committee Meeting with heads of security agencies.

This strategic gathering culminated in a joint task force with a directive ordering the immediate two-week closure of all scrap yards, commonly referred to as Pantaker markets, within the FCT.

The temporary closure of these markets was to dismantle the illicit trade in stolen
infrastructure and scrap metals, protecting vital public assets and enhancing citizen
safety.

THE LAUNCH OF “OPERATION SWEEP” JOINT TASK FORCE
In alignment with this directive, the FCT Police Command and other sister security
agencies initiated “Operation Sweep”, a decisive enforcement action targeting the
vandalisation, destruction, and illegal sale of critical infrastructure to Pantaker operators and other illicit buyers.

A multi-agency task force, comprising sister security agencies within the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), launched a series of targeted operations aimed at dismantling the illicit trade in stolen infrastructure and scrap metals.

The task force includes:
– Nigerian Police
– Nigerian Army
– Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
– Department of State Service (DSS)
– Immigration
– Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
– Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS)
– FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS)
– Abuja Environmental Protection Agency
– National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
– Abuja Development Control (ADC)
These coordinated operations focused on scrap yards, commonly known as Pantaker
markets, where scavengers, referred to as Baban Bola, engage in criminal activities.

The task force aimed to displace, evacuate, and demolish makeshift shanties and illegal
structures, thereby disrupting the illicit trade and ensuring peaceful public safety#