FCTA Crushes 601 Seized Motorcycle in Bid to Maintain Road Sanity

*Recover stolen vehicles, apprehend culprits

In a bid to enhance security and traffic order in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has crushed no fewer than 601 motorcycles impounded for violating traffic regulations in Abuja.

The development is part of the ongoing campaign against the use of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okadas, within prohibited areas of the city.

Speaking at the crushing exercise, Mandate Secretary for Transport, Elechi Chinedum, stated that the action was backed by existing laws and aimed at reinforcing the ban on okada operations in designated parts of the city.

“We are acting under the regulation of the FCT, which was signed on January 1, 2023, under the former minister Mohammed Bello. The law bans the use of motorcycles in certain areas, and what we’re doing here is simply enforcing the law,” Chinedum explained.

The FCTA has expressed growing concerns about the security implications of commercial motorcycle operations, citing their increasing use in crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.

Chinedum reassured law-abiding citizens that they were not being targeted, stating, “If you have a motorcycle in your house, we’re not coming after you. But don’t bring it into the prohibited area. If you bring it in, we will get hold of it. If we get hold of it, we will crush it.”

The Director of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Abdulateef Bello, noted that the ban on okadas in the city centre dates back to 2006, but enforcement has intensified due to growing security threats.

“This routine exercise supports the standing ban. We are sending a strong message to those who still invest in this line of business: it’s not worth the risk. Criminals are increasingly using motorcycles to evade law enforcement, commit robberies, and kidnap citizens,” Bello said.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, FCT Command, Mode Magawata, backed the exercise, adding that the FCT Minister directly funded it to rid the city of a known tool of criminals.

“These motorcycles are not just traffic violators. They are used by criminals to disrupt order, escape scenes, and commit heinous crimes. The Minister has mandated us not to allow them within restricted zones, and we are fully equipped to ensure compliance,” he said.

In a related development, the FCT police command has busted a suspected car theft syndicate operating in the FCT. The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects, including a woman who confessed to buying Toyota master keys on a leading online shopping website to aid her husband in stealing vehicles.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the breakthrough came after the Scorpion Squad arrested one Yusuf Yunusa in connection with a stolen gold Toyota Corolla reported missing from the Federal Secretariat.

Further investigations led to the arrest of his wife, Blessing Yusuf, who admitted to purchasing the master keys online and creating distractions to enable her husband to steal vehicles.

In a separate case, police operatives responded to a tip-off from a buyer in Life Camp regarding a suspicious black Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC E-400.

The vehicle was confirmed to have been stolen from Lekki, Lagos, and five suspects were arrested and identified as Idris Suleiman, Isiyaku Habibu, Ganiyu Sadiq, Idowu Akintunde, and Bello Muyideen.

The stolen vehicle was recovered, and the suspects confessed to stealing it from their employer.

Another suspect, George Idung, a driver, was tracked down and arrested in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, after fleeing with his employer’s unregistered Toyota Hilux Adventure.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Mabushi Division recovered the vehicle and apprehended the suspect while he attempted to sell it.

All suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations. The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, has urged residents to install vehicle tracking devices, avoid parking in isolated areas, and verify ownership before buying any used vehicle.

The FCTA’s crackdown on okada operations and the police command’s efforts to combat car theft syndicates are part of a broader strategy to enhance security and maintain law and order in the nation’s capital.

As the city continues to grow and develop, the authorities remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors alike.