Dei-Dei Crisis: FCTA raids forests, and over 15 suspects
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday began raiding all the forests close to Jiwa, Dei-Dei, and its environs to fish out perpetrators and calm pending tensions, following the civil unrest that occurred at Dei-Dei by the Kubwa Expressway of FCT which resulted in the deaths of people and destruction of properties.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah, disclosed that the operation was necessitated by public outcry.
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Attah said 15 persons have been arrested as operatives invade all the dangerous forests where criminals take shelter to wreak havoc on the residents.
Residents of Dei-Dei and the surrounding settlements have been living in fear a week after the mayhem with the fear that miscreants hiding in the nearby forest will launch another attack.
According to residents, these communities’ forests are known hideouts where criminals were allegedly recruited to cause havoc in the area.
The Sarkin Jiwa, HRH Alhaji Idris Musa who endorsed the raid, also confirmed the allegations that the forests harbor criminal elements who disturb the peace of the communities.
Speaking further, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister said residents have confirmed the involvement of scavengers in the Dei-Dei crisis, and a lot of notorious crimes were traced to them.
He disclosed that some scavengers are often found to be moving around with dangerous weapons and attacking innocent residents.
He said the operation will be extended to other places to guarantee maximum safety and security for all residents.
Attah added that FCTA had no plans to stop the legitimate business of waste collection and recycling but have the responsibility to tackle the crimes and criminals operating under any guise.
According to him: ” We got intensive complaints about insecurity around Jiwa axis and communities that have come under attacks by people believed to be baban bolas. This area is also notorious as it was the place where two police officers were ambushed and their rifles were also taken away before they were later recovered.
“This is why we have to come out today under the directives of the FCT Minister, to clean all the dangerous forests where these people are taking shelter and wreaking havoc on the residents. We have arrested over 15 persons.
”Waste collection and recycling are not crimes, but the crimes associated with Baban Bolas, are what we will not fold our hands and watch”, Attah added.