The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday in Abuja demolished scavengers’ camp and illegal markets at Lugbe on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road.

Ikharo Attah, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, who led the exercise, said the activities of scavengers and the illegal markets constitute a nuisance to the area.

Mr Attah said many of the demolished illegal shanties were suspected criminal hideouts, where hoodlums smoke marijuana and other illicit drugs freely.

“We cleared shanties and scavengers on the Airport Road some time ago, but suddenly the illegal activities are gradually returning,” he said.

Mr Attah said that the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, directed the task force team to ensure that sanity was maintained after visiting the area.

“The FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, who plays a key role in the operation, also insisted that all the illegal activities that paved the way for criminal acts on the road must be checked.”

Reacting to the exercise, a trader whose illegal structure was affected by the demolition, Rukiyat Abiodun, decried the frequent dislodging of their shops by FCT officials.

She said that government should consider the traders’ plight, saying, “demolition of our shops is not good, there should be a way of checking activities of the scavengers.”

Emmanuel Aigbokhai, a resident, said the exercise would stop criminal activities caused by scavengers and illegal markets around the area.

(NAN)