From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), at the weekend, admitted that terrorists (bandits) were still operating on the fringes of the nation’s capital, specifically in four, out of the six area councils.
The Administration said the four area councils are Bwari, Abaji, Kuje and Kwali. It said the terrorists usually come from neighbouring states, strike and return.
A director in the Department of Security Services (DSS), Mrs Ebele Molokwu, at a media parley, said the Nyesom Wike-led administration was working round the clock to partner with neighbouring states and restore sanity to the affected areas.
She said with the ongoing reorganisation of the security architecture in the territory, and plans to revive security collaboration among neighbouring states, the issue would be addressed.
She noted: “Yes, there are still issues of bandits and farmers clashes in Bwari, Abaji, Kuje and Kwali Area Councils. We know and the administration is working round the clock to address these issues. With the reorganisation of security architecture by the Minister, Wike, things will change soon. When the security partnership among neighbouring states is revived, those bandits who operate and run back to those states won’t have the chance to do that.”
Similarly, director in charge of Security Services of the FCT Administration, Adamu Gwary, has warned that the Federal Secretariat was not a place to beg, saying “if you do not have anything to do here, please don’t come.”
Speaking on measures it has put in place to secure the lives and property of FCT residents, Gwary revealed that the 2023 supplementary budget sent to the National Assembly adequately captures the determination of the Wike-led FCTA to float an effective transport separation system.
He said: “Effective transportation system, which has been included in the supplementary budget will drastically reduce issues around one-chance and parking in the FCT.”
Also revealing plans to review security architecture of the FCT, the director added that plans had already reached advanced stages to revive the G-7 security initiative and as well as expand its number of security informants to include artisans and farmers, among others.
He also stated that the use of informants for information and intelligence gathering, as well as vigilance groups were part of community policing the FCT Administration has been carrying out, which has ensured that the territory remained safe and secure.
Responding to a question on what punishment was meted out to a traditional chief earlier involved in kidnapping, Gwary explained that the chief was stripped of his title and handed over to law enforcement agents for protection.
He, however, regretted that weak legal structures were negatively affecting adjudication and punishment of lawbreakers and criminals. The director stated that his department was working assiduously behind the scene for the maintenance of security in the nation’s capital, including keeping peace between herders and farmers, and working with relevant agencies in preventing vandalisation of public utilities.
He said the FCT Administration has completed installation of CCTV cameras around its Secretariat in the phase 1 of the programme and would embark on phase two of the programme which involves installation around strategic areas of the city to monitor, arrest and prosecute criminals.
Calling on residents to be security conscious and report any suspicious happenings to nearby police stations, Gwary informed the public that there was prevalence of criminality in parts of Bwari, Kuje, Abaji and Kwali, among others.