FCT Security Committee Reactivates Operation Sweep To Tackle Kidnapping, Banditry

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Security Committee has taken a preemptive action to reactivate the joint security task force known as Operation Sweep FCT to ensure that the rising incidents of kidnapping and banditry being experienced in parts of the country do not spill into the FCT.

The FCT Police Commissioner, Miller Dantawaye made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the expanded FCT Security Committee Meeting, chaired by the FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

He said, the FCT Security Committee, comprising top representatives from various security agencies operating in the FCT, including the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Airforce, Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps took the decision to guard the FCT against the rising cases of kidnapping being experienced in parts of the country.

He stated in a statement by the Assistant Director, Press, Office Of the Minister, Rabi Musa Umar, that the FCT Minister had provided the necessary logistics for the security agencies to ensure the success of the exercise, which, he said, was usually carried out towards the end of the year and at intervals.

According to the CP, “There has been heightened kidnapping in the country and we think the FCT should never experience that. Various security agencies including the Police, DSS and Civil Defence are putting heads together. We came together and decided to commence our own Operation Sweep.

“The highlights of our meeting are basically the activation of Operation Sweep which kick-started yesterday. We launched it and that is mostly done towards the end of the year. The FCT Minister in his wisdom has provided adequate logistics for our operation.

“The operations will touch on violent crimes and kidnapping. The essence is to ensure the prevention of crime in the FCT”, Dantawaye stated.

The Police Commissioner, while detailing the deployment strategy, stated that the task force had commenced its operations with the creation of four major sectors, including two in Gwagwalada and Bwari with another two domiciled within the city centre to ensure the prevention of crimes and criminalities in Garki and Wuse extending up to Mararaba, Karshi and Orozo.

“We have activated serious interactions with the schools and religious houses to gather as much intelligence as we can get. We are deploying heavy logistics, especially around the fringes. Schools are being patrolled and well secured and we are building confidence in them”, he said.

Dantawaye further allayed the fears of residents over threats of insecurity and assured that the security agencies were on top of their game to ensure the security of lives and properties in the FCT.

He appealed to residents to continue their normal daily activities and urged Christians and Muslims to go about their religious functions in churches and mosques without fear, given the massive deployment of personnel.

“I appeal to FCT residents to continue their day-to-day activities knowing that we will do our best to secure them.

“We have deployed massively around churches and mosques. Our Christian and Muslim brothers should go about their religious functions without fear”, he said and urged FCT residents to also provide credible information to security agencies to aid crime prevention.