Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has mobilised the traditional rulers in the FCT to support the fight against insecurity in the federal capital.
He made the appeal yesterday in Abuja during a security meeting with the FCT Council of Chiefs and the chairmen of the six Area Council.
The minister said the parley was to brief the traditional rulers about the effort of government to curb rising insecurity in some parts of the Area Councils, notably Bwari, Kwali and Kuje.
He informed the traditional leaders that the FCT Administration would continue to demolish shanties, which criminals were using hideouts to unleash terror on FCT residents.
Wike, who stressed the need for a strong synergy between the government and traditional leaders, noted that their support was critical to winning the war against criminal elements creating fear for residents of the FCT.
The minister, who said traditional leaders have a key role in maintaining security in their domains, charged them to provide sensitive information to security agencies to aid their work.
While assuring FCT residents that the government was not sleeping but doing everything possible to address the challenge, he asked members of the council to work with the Area Councils Chairmen to strengthen vigilance groups in their respective domains.
The minister also cautioned against enlisting residents with criminal tendencies to avoid compounding the existing security challenge.
He said: “Therefore, they must be profiled so that they are known. Who are they? Are they from our communities? This is key, so that we won’t say we want to solve a problem and then cause another one.
“If there are things you think we should do too, we are willing to partner you so that the challenges we are facing now will be a thing of the past.
“You must work hard because insecurity is not written on anybody’s face. Anyone can be a victim and that is why we must do everything possible to ensure that our subjects are not victims of these criminals.”
The Chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, who responded on behalf of the traditional rulers, assured the minister of the council’s full support.
Also, the Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Mr Daniel Chiya, equally pledged the support of the council chairmen to the fight against insecurity.
