FCTA Impounds 40 Vehicles, 52 Motorcycles in Abuja Security Crackdown

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has impounded 40 vehicles and 52 motorcycles in a sustained operation targeting transport operators who violate traffic rules and contribute to criminal activities in the nation’s capital.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Sweep Abuja,” is conducted by a multi-agency task force involving the police, civil defence, and other security agencies. Officials state the crackdown is a critical measure to combat security threats, including kidnapping and the notorious “one-chance” robberies often linked to unregulated commercial vehicles.

Speaking after inspecting the impounded items at the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) yard in Wuye, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transport Secretariat, Barr. Chinedu Elechi, clarified the next steps. He stated that while impounded motorcycles will be crushed, the owners of seized vehicles will face a mobile court to determine the final penalty.

“We don’t just impound; the owners will face a mobile court… Sustainability is as they violate. So long as they are not tired of violating the law, we too cannot be tired,” Elechi asserted.

Barr. Elechi emphasized the direct link between unregulated transport and crime, noting that “one-chance” robberies “hardly happen with the painted taxis.” To formalize the sector and enhance security, the administration announced plans to profile all commercial drivers, register taxis, and ensure they are properly painted and numbered.

“This is so that everybody will know that when you’re entering a commercial vehicle, it is painted, it has a side number. If you decide to use your personal vehicle to do transportation, we will come after you,” he explained.

Corroborating the details, the Acting Director of the DRTS, Deborah Osho, confirmed that the items were seized for various offenses, with unmarked vehicles used for illegal commercial transport being the primary violation.

“The major one is the unpainted commercial vehicles… These [motorcycles] are mostly used for criminal activities like bag snatching,” Osho stated.

The FCTA’s actions underscore the administration’s commitment, under Minister Nyesom Wike, to enforce law and order and ensure a safer environment for residents of Abuja.