Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate and comprehensive clampdown on illegal mining activities springing up around the FCT, which have been identified as serious security threats to the FCT.
Commissioner of Police, FCT, Ajao Saka Adewale disclosed this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the outcome of the FCT Security Committee Meeting held at the official residence of the FCT Minister in Life Camp and chaired by the Minister.
The Commissioner said, “The issue of illegal mining springing up around the city has equally been of concern, and you would understand the security implications of this. He (FCT Minister) has given a directive that those illegal mining must be shut down”.
He also disclosed that the Committee, during its meeting, brainstormed on the general security situation in the FCT with specific attention to issues of destitution, illegal IDP camps, proliferation of shanties, street beggars and traffic offences within the FCT, adding that the FCT Minister has tasked the security agencies to rid the FCT of identified security concerns that pose a threat to the security of lives and properties in the FCT.
He said, “Specifically, the issue of shanties springing up everywhere in the FCT has been of concern and importance to the Honourable Minister. We equally have the issue of these beggars, destitute all over the city which we have been addressing and he has tasked the Service Commander to continue addressing the situation to see that we rid the whole of FCT streets of all these miscreants that are constituting threats to the environment.
“We have equally seen people taking undue advantage of certain situations, constituting themselves into illegal IDP camps. Such is not recognised within the FCT, and have been identified where people need to be profiled, and if you have reasons to be here, you will be, and if you have no reason to be in the FCT, we will relocate you to where you belong.
“Traffic offences that equally contribute to crime in the city have been identified, such as people driving around with covered number plates, people driving against the traffic. These are life-threatening challenges. Anybody driving against the traffic, that is one-way, is actually on a suicide mission. There is going to be a total clampdown on these offenders and they will be properly documented. On these specific tasks, directives have been given and we are rolling out for full implementation”, the CP stressed.
Providing update on the Operation Sweep exercise embarked upon in the last four months in the FCT to rid the city of beggars and criminal elements, the CP also disclosed that the exercise has been largely successful, with 273 destitutes removed from the streets and placed at the Social Development Secretariat Centre in Bwari where they are being cared for and profiled. He said the exercise will continue, stressing that the goal is to relocate those who have no business being in the FCT.
The CP added that the task team has also impounded 670 vehicles over road traffic offences, while those arrested for drug peddling have been handed over to the NDLEA for further necessary actions.
According to him, “So many arrests were made within the four months period of the operation sweep. As we speak, more than 273 destitutes are in the Social Development Secretariat Centre in Bwari undergoing profiling. Their welfare has been taken care of, and they need to be relocated to where they belong.
“Within the same period, more than 670 vehicles were impounded, relating to issues of improper documentation, tinted glasses, which we all know is not acceptable here, issues of covered number plates and commercial operations without an appropriate license.
“In the course of this operation, we have offences that relate to drug peddling, we have offences that have to do with destitute and illegal begging. For those found committing offence that relate to drug peddling, they have been handed over to the NDLEA”, he stressed.
Addressing the issue of the recent clashes between farmers and herders within the Gwagwalada Area Council, the CP disclosed that the matter has been laid to rest as the stakeholders have been made to sign a peace accord, which, he said, will be escalated down to all levels to ensure that there is lasting peace in the affected communities.
“For now, all the services are still maintaining our presence in that environment in terms of confidence-building to ensure that we don’t have a repeat of that situation or any form of reprisal”, he said.
