By Pius Awunah
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed that all illegal settlements and shanties in Abuja posing security threats and obstructing developmental projects will be cleared without compromise.
“The ongoing onslaught on criminal hideouts in Abuja will continue,” Wike declared, stressing that the FCT Administration (FCTA) can not allow any enclave that provides cover for criminals to thrive.
According to the Minister, the security challenges emanating from parts of Durumi District, particularly Area 1 in Garki, have become worrisome.
He noted that the shanties have turned into hubs for high-level crimes, including robbery, carjacking, drug peddling, and one-chance operations, endangering law-abiding residents.
To address the menace, Wike inaugurated a Stakeholders’ Committee made up of security chiefs, FCTA officials, civil society organisations, and representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to recommend sustainable measures.
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, revealed in a statement on Monday,August 18,2025,that the committee found out that the shanties not only fuel crime but also prevent rightful landowners and government agencies from using their allocated plots.
Three months ago, a major security operation in Area 1, Durumi, led to the arrest of over 120 suspects, including drug peddlers, carjackers, and armed robbers.
Security operatives also recovered seven stolen vehicles, 79 motorcycles, and 155 ATM cards stolen from victims of one-chance operators who used the settlement as their base.
Though parts of the shanties were cleared during the operation, Olayinka noted that illegal occupants have since returned, rebuilding structures and regrouping criminal activities.
“Some of these makeshift houses sit on land allocated more than 20 years ago, but genuine allottees and even government agencies have been unable to make use of their property because of the illegal settlers,” he said.
The FCTA has already begun clearing shanties across the city centre, with the Durumi and Area 1 axis next in line for demolition.
