FCT transport secretary cautions AMAC taskforce over illegal duty

The newly appointed FCT Secretary of Transportation, Comrade Opeifa Kayode, has cautioned the leaders of Abuja Municipal Area Council Joint Taskforce who have engaged in illegal and undesignated duty against over stepping their jurisdiction as environmental and security taskforce.

In what looks like clash of interest, on who controls the major axis within the Abuja metropolis, the FCT ministerial joint task force recently arrested men and officers of the Abuja Municipal Area Council task force, led by Mr. Chinedu Obika, who were seen terrorising the public at various vicinities.

While addressing both joint task force, the Secretary of Transport, vehemently condemned the act by the AMAC, whose men had resorted to assaulting superior police men with the ministerial task force.

His words: “I am disappointed that men of the Nigerian Police could resort to disgracing their superior officers by laying hands on their uniforms, it is most disturbing.

I must tell you that you AMAC has no jurisdiction in arresting people parking vehicles on the streets. Your duty is right at designated parks as approved by the Minister. I can also say that the act is tantamount to disruption of public peace”.

Opeifa, who ordered the return and release of the arrested men of AMAC task force, also ordered that every reported case of assault must be documented officially for record purposes.

He further appealed that both groups should apologise to each for peace just as they both need each other to operate maximally.

“When I was in Lagos, we used to see this kind of situation of the local council revenue tax force encroaching on the state revenue agency but we always tell them not to over step their boundary.

But we can always find a ground for a meeting point and everybody will be happy,” he added.

The chairman of the AMAC task force, Mr. Obika, apologised for his men’s attitude and insensitivities. He said that what happened between his men and the ministerial joint task force has actually exposed him to the laws on FCT environmental task force.

Meanwhile, the Ministerial Joint Taskforce on the enforcement of the ban on use of motorcycles has arrested numerous offenders who flaunt the restriction on tricycles, activities of unpainted taxis/illegal motor parks and the eradication of other public nuisance in the FCT

The committee is headed by the Commissioner of Police, FCT, Mr. Sadiq Abubakar Bello, as the Chairman and has all security agencies on the team with the duty of arresting unpainted taxis and illegal parked vehicles.

According to the taskforce in its October operation, it carried out raid across the FCT and arrested 255 unpainted vehicles.

Also, it revealed that it has also impounded 123 motorcycles within the city centre, adding that the vehicles and motorcycles were handed over to the DRTS for further necessary action.

According to information gathered by The Abuja Times, 12 suspected commercial sex hawkers were arrested at a residential building around Wuse Zone 5.

The task force also carried out a routine check on some immigrants mostly Chinese and Indians who were accosted by officers of the Immigration service on the team for routine check of their documents. They were however released after confirming that they have valid papers.