Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s task force have arrested 480 suspected criminals from various uncompleted buildings as well as undeveloped plots of land in the Maitama and Wuse II areas of the city.
Mr Bennett Igweh, who led the task force said police uniforms, mobile phones, a loaded pistol, machetes and charms were recovered from the suspects.
He said that the suspects, who were mostly men, had turned uncompleted buildings and undeveloped plots of land into their hideout and haven to commit crimes.
Igweh added that some of them are suspected to be escapees from the Kuje Correctional Centre, saying they would be profiled to know their identities.
“We arrested about 480 suspected criminals. We are going to take many of them to court.
“We’ll do thorough profiling because we suspect that some of them are escapees from the Kuje Correctional Centre.
“We are starting from the city centre, and we will extend the arrests to other areas”.
According to Igweh, the exercise will cover 21 satellite villages and towns from Kabusa, Gishiri, Waru to Wasa and other areas in the FCT.
He promised that his team would get rid of criminal elements threatening the peace of the FCT.