TheCable

Some Abuja residents say a joint task force of the federal capital territory (FCT) is planning to carry out raids on women this weekend.

In a statement on Friday, the residents under the aegis of Concerned Abuja Residents said task force is targetting women at clubs and other public areas in the nation’s capital.

The group urged residents to remain “fearlessly vigilant in resisting this heinous operation in different parts of the city.”

“We have been able to gather from reliable sources that the FCTA Joint Task Force Team are planning to randomly carry out another raid on women this weekend at different places which may include night clubs and public places in Abuja,” the group said.

“We encourage all Abuja Residents to stand against every attempt by any state-sponsored group to harass, arrest or intimidate women in Abuja this weekend.

“Such action is totally unlawful and must be courageously resisted by all residents of Abuja, regardless of Gender, or any other reason there may be to cower in silence or fear.”

The residents said the indiscriminate arrests of women in Abuja must stop.

“That the state must ensure that the perpetrators of the physical and sexual violence against women in Abuja are brought to book,” they said.

“That the women who were victims of sexual and other forms of abuse by the FCTA Joint Task Force Team be duly compensated by the state.”

In April, the FCT joint task force raided Caramelo, a popular club in Abuja, and arrested some women, including strippers.

Different women were later arrested in various parts of the city and there were reports that some of them were raped.

The police said they are still investigating the allegations.

Efforts to reach Anjuri Manzah, FCT police spokesman, over the claim of raids on women this weekend, were not successful as his telephone line was out of reach.