Taskforce Disperses Street Traders In FCT

The taskforce of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), yesterday drove away street traders around Wuse Market after two of its vehicles were allegedly destroyed by some irate traders.

An official of the board, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that the vehicles were on routine patrol when the mob allegedly attacked them.

He said that the timely arrival of policemen saved the situation from degenerating.

Mr Uche Agbanusi, the Head of Department, Monitoring and Inspection in AEPB later led another enforcement team, which effected some arrests, pulled down makeshift shops and combed the motor park for criminals.

Agbanusi said that the structures had to be destroyed so as not to serve as hideout for criminals and miscreants.

“People living in the neighbourhood cannot sleep in the night because of the activities of the people that stay in the motor park.

“It is a green area, but since it has space, we just allowed them to use it as a park and since it has become a hideout for miscreants, they have to leave”, he said.

Mr Osaro Uwadia, an official of the park, however, claimed that they were not operating illegally, saying that the area was allotted them by auctioneers from Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency.