Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate 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 on Tuesday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the FCT Security Committee Meeting 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 stated that the Committee 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.
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 said the exercise had 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.
Addressing the issue of the recent clashes between farmers and herders within the Gwagwalada Area Council, the CP clarified that the matter had been laid to rest as the stakeholders had been made to sign a peace accord, which, he said, would be escalated to all levels to ensure that there is lasting peace in the affected communities.
Reporting by Tersoo Zamber