The Federal Capital Territory Administration, on Tuesday, crushed no fewer than 601 motorcycles impounded for violating traffic regulations in Abuja.
According to the FCT, the development reinforced its ongoing campaign against the use of commercial motorcycles popularly known as okadas within prohibited areas of the city.
Speaking at the crushing exercise, Mandate Secretary for Transport, Elechi Chinedum said the action was backed by existing laws and aimed at enhancing both security and traffic order in the capital.
“We are acting under the regulation of the FCT. “This law, signed on January 1, 2023, under the former minister Mohammed Bello, bans the use of motorcycles in designated parts of the city. What we’re doing here is simply enforcing the law.”
Chinedum noted that the FCTA was also increasingly concerned about the security implications of commercial motorcycle operations.
He said, “These motorcycles are now being used more frequently in crimes—armed robbery, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.”
We are not targeting law-abiding citizens.
“So what we do is we’ll continue to put more men on the street. If you have a motorcycle in your house, we’re not coming after you. But don’t bring it into the prohibited area. If you bring it in, we will get hold of it. If we get hold of it, we will crush it. What we’re doing is to enforce the law. The law is there and if they are not tired of breaking the law, definitely we will not be tired of enforcing it.”
The Director of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Abdulateef Bello, noted that the ban on Okada in the city centre dates back to 2006, but enforcement has intensified due to growing security threats.
“This routine exercise supports the standing ban. We are sending a strong message to those who still invest in this line of business: it’s not worth the risk.
“Criminals are increasingly using motorcycles to evade law enforcement, commit robberies, and kidnap citizens,” Bello said.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, FCT Command, Mode Magawata, backed the exercise, adding that the FCT Minister directly funded it to rid the city of a known tool of criminals.
“These motorcycles are not just traffic violators. They are used by criminals to disrupt order, escape scenes, and commit heinous crimes. The Minister has mandated us not to allow them within restricted zones, and we are fully equipped to ensure compliance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the FCT police command base busted a suspected car theft syndicate operating in the FCT.
The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects, including a woman who confessed to buying Toyota master keys on a leading online shopping website to aid her husband in stealing vehicles.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the breakthrough came after the Scorpion Squad on April 19, 2025, arrested one Yusuf Yunusa in connection with a stolen gold Toyota Corolla reported missing from the Federal Secretariat.
She said further investigations led to the arrest of his wife, Blessing Yusuf, on April 25 in Kwali Area Council.
Adah said the wife admitted to purchasing the master keys online and revealed that created distractions to enable her husband to steal the vehicles.
“On April 19, 2025, following the report of a stolen gold Toyota Corolla (Reg No. ABC 570 FJ) from the Federal Secretariat, operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad arrested one Yusuf Yunusa.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of his wife, Blessing Yusuf, on 25th April in Kwali Area Council. She confessed to purchasing Toyota master keys from the online marketplace, which her husband used to steal vehicles, while she created distractions to facilitate the crimes.”
Adah said, in a separate case, police operatives responded to a tip-off from a buyer in Life Camp regarding a suspicious black Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC E-400 (Reg No. AAA 07 KA).
She said the vehicle was confirmed to have been stolen from Lekki, Lagos.
“Five suspects were arrested and identified as Idris Suleiman, Isiyaku Habibu, Ganiyu Sadiq, Idowu Akintunde, and Bello Muyideen. The stolen vehicle was recovered and the suspects confessed to stealing it from their employer,” she added.
Adah said another suspect, George Idung, a driver, was tracked down and arrested in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, after fleeing with his employer’s unregistered Toyota Hilux Adventure.
She said acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Mabushi Division recovered the vehicle and apprehended the suspect while he attempted to sell it.
“All suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” Adeh added.
She said the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale urged residents to install vehicle tracking devices, avoid parking in isolated areas, and verify ownership before buying any used vehicle.
