FCTA invades drug colony, arrest peddlers

Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Ministerial Task Force on City sanitation on Thursday invaded the dreaded Gudu hard drugs colony, recovered some hard drugs after demolishing their shanties.

Three persons suspected to be the leaders of the drug syndicate were arrested with various deadly substances, including several packs of India hemp, one knife, bottles of codeine and tablets of other contraband drugs amongst others.

Chairman of the Ministerial Task Force on City sanitation, Ikharo Attah said that there was no going back on the aggressive cleaning exercise, ongoing in Abuja, especially places that pose a threat to security and safety of residents.

Attah noted that 11 vehicles believed to have been abandoned by roadside mechanics, who operate an illegal workshops around the drugs colony, along the road corridors.

While he warned that all the hideouts where criminal elements hide within the Apo road corridors and other places will be removed, he also called on residents to stop constructing shanties indiscriminately without approval of relevant authorities.

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According to him, FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello has vowed to spare no effort in restoring total sanitation to the nation’s capital, hence the resolve of the team to sustain the clean-up.

He added that a surveillance team had been commissioned to monitor all the places where illegal occupants we’re dislodged, to ensure that all those constituting nuisance do not return.

Attah said: “we resumed the operation today and were shocked to find out that at places we cleared completely on Monday those removed had started to return by Wednesday. What one observed is that these people believe it’s business as usual. Our returned today is sending a strong message to them that the FCT minister is determined to match words with action.

“The removal of shanties is of immense benefit to the city. These areas have become very safe hideouts for criminal elements and notorious drugs dealers”.