By Sunny Onyekwere
December 23, 2025
The sun on Monday had barely set over Abuja when the flashing lights of combined security agencies signaled the intensification of Operation Sweep from a mere morning exercise to a simultaneous full-scale night raid.
Major roads across the city became the stage for a coordinated effort to sanitize the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of criminal elements.
Following a rigorous morning session, the night phase aimed to tighten the noose on those hoping to use the cover of darkness for nefarious activities during the busy festive season.
Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the FCT Security Command and Control Centre, explained that the operation is strategically divided into sectors to ensure total coverage.
He said from the Kubwa-Bwari axis to the Gwagwalada-Abaji corridor and the bustling Metro city center, security personnel have been deployed to maintain a 24-hour presence, adding that it is a multi-sectoral approach ensures that no corner of the FCT is left unmonitored, creating a seamless web of security that shifts fluidly from day to night.
According to him, a major focus of this current push is the crackdown on dispatch riders who have been doubling as couriers for controlled substances, and working alongside the NDLEA, the task team is actively identifying, intercepting riders carrying cocaine, other illegal drugs.
Dr. Olumuji noted that several arrests have already been made, while the Commissioner of Police will provide specific numbers during an upcoming press briefing, the message remains clear: the city’s logistics network will not be a haven for drug trafficking.
It was observed that the night raid also features storming intensified “stop and search” operations, which is a collaborative effort between the Nigerian Police and various sister agencies.
These checkpoints, Olumuji said are designed to deter “one chance” operators, other criminals who seek to take advantage of residents during the Yuletide season.
By maintaining a visible presence on every major road, the team aims to ensure that the economic desperation of a few does not translate into pain for the law-abiding citizens of the FCT.
“Residents have begun to take notice, with many commuters applauding the Minister of the FCT for sustaining such a rigorous security presence. The sight of uniforms at regular intervals has provided a sense of relief for those traveling late”, he stated.
Furthermore, Dr. Olumuji assured the public that they should move without fear, stating that the FCT is safe, that security checkpoint is almost always within reach of any location in the city.
“To further bolster public safety, the FCT Security Command has emphasized the importance of community intelligence. Residents are encouraged to “say something if they see something” by contacting the police control room at 080-3200-3913. This rapid-response system is designed to dispatch a security team within a “twinkling of an eye,” ensuring that any suspected threat is neutralized before it can escalate, allowing families to sleep with “both eyes closed”, he said.
Also, Ukachi Adebayo, Head of Social Development Secretariat (SDS) Enforcement, clarified that her department operating under the Operation Sweep umbrella is focused on apprehending destitutes, beggars who roam the streets.
Once apprehended, these individuals are taken to a central holding ground where their welfare is prioritized, and they are assessed for further intervention.
Adebayo explains:
“The SDS strategy is one of rehabilitation, repatriation rather than mere punishment, as individuals willing to learn are enrolled in vocational training programs to give them a fresh start, while others are repatriated to their home states.”
When asked if the department would ever tire of this cycle, she reiterated that they would never weary of “apprehending” those in need of relocation, so as to keep the nation’s capital orderly, secured for everyone.
