Insecurity: FCTA bans scavenging, suspends ‘Pantaker’ operations in Abuja
…as Wike chairs 2025 First Security Committee Meeting
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday banned scavengers from operating within the nation’s capital.
The development is due to the unwanted removal of manhole covers in some parts of the city.
The Commissioner of Police in FCT, Olatunji Disu, made this known while briefing reporters after the FCT Security Committee Meeting chaired by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Disu said the scavengers are allowed to operate only on dumpsites located in the outskirts of the city and suburbs.
He said: “All security agencies have been tasked with ensuring that this order is enforced, beginning from January 14, 2025.
The police boss said the administration has also banned the operation of ‘pantaker’ markets where fairly used items and scrap iron, including furniture and home appliances, are sold for two weeks, beginning from Tuesday across the nation’s capital.
Disu explained that the two-week suspension was to allow security agencies to profile the ‘pantaker’ operators.
This, he said, would ensure that only legitimate operators operate in ‘Pantakers’ across the FCT.
He said the security committee has concluded that everybody arrested for vandalising public infrastructure would be charged to court and tried for economic sabotage, and if possible, attempted murder.
Disu emphasized the need for stricter penalties, noting that lenient punishments have allowed vandals to continue their activities.
“Many of these criminals are fined as little as ₦2,000 or given 24 strokes of the cane. This does nothing to deter them. Going forward, we will charge them with economic sabotage and, in severe cases, attempted murder or murder,” he said.
He highlighted the dangers posed by vandalism, such as the removal of manhole covers, which often lead to fatal accidents.
“These acts are enough to kill residents of the Federal Capital Territory. Imagine driving at night and falling into an open manhole. This is not just about infrastructure—it’s about lives,” CP Disu stated. He urged residents to view public infrastructure as shared property and report suspicious activities. “If you see something, say something. Let’s join hands to protect what belongs to all of us,” he added.
Addressing the persistent threat of “one chance” robbery, Disu revealed that the police made significant progress in 2024 by recovering 21 operational vehicles used by the criminals.
“Most of these vehicles were fully tinted, making it difficult for victims to seek help. We will continue with the intelligence-driven patrols and strategies that worked last year to reduce these crimes,” he said.
He explained that the criminals’ activities are treated as armed robbery and, in some cases, kidnapping under the law.
The Commissioner also responded to inquiries about the bomb blast in Bwari, assuring residents that investigations are ongoing.
“We are doing everything possible to unravel the matter. When the time is right, I will provide an update on our findings,” he said.
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