On Wednesday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) impounded 16 vehicles and four cows and arrested seven beggars in Abuja.

The vehicles, beggars, and cows were seized while enforcing zero tolerance for unapproved motor parks and the herding of cows in restricted areas.

The FCTA officials impounded 16 vehicles for unauthorised parking in front of the federal secretariat, Eagle Square, Appeal Court Junction, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. At the same time, the enforcement agents seized the seven beggars and four cows at Lugbe, along Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Road, for constituting a nuisance to the environment.

The enforcement team also cleared illegal food vendors and hawkers around MTN office, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street in Maitama, which the team designated as a hideout for criminals.

Peter Olumuji, the secretary of the command and control Centre, FCTA, who led the operation, said the exercise was part of efforts to keep the capital city clean and safe for all residents.

Mr Olumuji said the operation was a continuation of the enforcement of sanity across the city by combined officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Social Development Secretariat, and Directorate of Road Traffic Services.

“The exercise is meant to tackle various nuisances within the territory, especially illegal motor parks, where most of the taxis can be used for criminal purposes.

“We are also clearing and arresting beggars across the territory as part of measures to maintain sanity in the environment,” he said.

He said the seizure of the cows was to enforce the ban on open grazing to demonstrate the FCT Administration’s zero tolerance for herding cattle in unauthorised places.

He also said that the enforcement team had arrested a man who posed as security personnel to defraud and intimidate residents. He added that the culprit had been handed over to the police for prosecution.

In her remarks, Deborah Osho, the Head of Operations of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, said the operation was in line with the Senate directives to end illegal motor parks in the capital city.

Ms Osho warned motorists against indiscriminate parking of vehicles and the operation of illegal parks.

(NAN)