…raids drug peddlers’ colonies
By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has Monday, resumed another round of clampdown on illegal roadside currency traders, also known as Bureau De Change operators at Wuse Zone 4.
This was even as it also stormed some red light zones in Central Business District of the City, ransacking and setting ablaze places suspected to drug peddlers’ colonies.
Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, said the enforcement team will have no option than to begin arrest and prosecution of the illegal hawkers, if they refuse to respect the laws.
Attah explained that the intelligence reports from the Economic and Financing Crimes Commission ( EFCC) about the currency hawkers were worrisome, insisting that unless they comply with regulatory guidelines for the business, relevant forces may be deployed to sanitize the industry.
He also noted that FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello wants people to flourish in their various enterprises, but must do whatever they are doing within the ambit of the law.
According to him, the EFCC reports against the Wuse Zone 4 Bureau De Change operators, exposed so many illegalities which the present administration will not condone, but will work in synergy with other agencies of government to address.
On why the taskforce stormed the suspected drug peddlers’ colonies, he stated that efforts need to be doubled, to ensure that the festive period remains peaceful in Abuja.
He added that the taskforce would remain steadfast to the duty of dismantling everything that contributes to insecurity with the nation’s capital.
“We had to address the issue of insecurity, removing all the shanties around the Bolingo hotels and the Churchgate building.
“Currency hawking is a very difficult one. FCT Minister had gotten correspondences from the EFCC, appealing to the the administration to use its enforcement components to stop the currency hawking .
“We had met with them before and now to warn them to find a way to stop the illegalities and do their business in line with the regulatory guidelines.
“We want them to do their business in their shops, because the Minister and EFCC have frowned seriously at the issue.
“We also believe that it is dangerous for them to change currencies on the roadside, because they could be attacked by criminals”, he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Danlami, the Deputy National Chairman of Bureau De Change operators, said “the leadership of the Union of Bureau De Change operators here have been trying to organize the people .
” We are law abiding citizens and we want everyone to do everything according to the law”.