The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified its clampdown on traffic violations and criminally inclined motorists in Abuja, announcing the impoundment of over 700 vehicles for offences such as the use of fake number plates, illegal tinted glass, and other infractions. The seizures were made under the ongoing multi-agency security exercise, Operation Sweep Abuja Clean, designed to curb “one-chance” robberies and recover stolen vehicles.
The Director of the FCTA Department of Security Services, Adamu Gwary, disclosed this during a late-night stop-and-search operation at Apo-Wassa junction and the Karu axis of the FCT on Monday. Represented by the Secretary of the Command and Control Centre, Dr. Peter Olumuji, Gwary explained that the second phase of the operation had already recorded significant success, drastically reducing one-chance incidents in the territory. “Our stop-and-search exercise has made it clear to criminals that no matter where they are in the FCT, the team will always reach them,” he said.
According to intelligence gathered from victims, vehicles used in one-chance robberies were often illegally tinted, unregistered, or carried fake number plates. Gwary cautioned motorists, particularly commercial drivers, against the use of tinted glasses, stressing that they provide cover for criminal activity. He added that in just one week, the task force had recovered seven stolen vehicles, urging residents to bear with the temporary inconveniences caused by the operations, which were aimed at safeguarding lives and property.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations at the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Deborah Osho, said the task force had stepped up its drive against unregistered and unpainted taxis, which are commonly linked to one-chance robberies. She noted that several vehicles were impounded for offences ranging from using plates not assigned to their vehicles to driving against traffic. “Most of the one-chance vehicles either have fake number plates not traceable to the actual vehicles or operate as unpainted taxis, making it difficult to identify them,” Osho stated, adding that the large number of vehicles apprehended in Karu was a strong signal that Abuja was becoming unsafe for criminals.
The officials assured residents that the clampdown would continue until sanity is restored on Abuja’s roads, while appealing for cooperation with enforcement officers to ensure a safer environment across the territory.
