The Minister of State for the FederalCapitalTerritory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, on Wednesday called on traditional rulers and other stakeholders to evolve new methods of tackling insecurity in the nation’s capital.
Aliyu made the call at the 6th security meeting with Area Council Chairmen, Council of Graded Chiefs and other critical stakeholders in the territory, held in Abuja.
The meeting was necessitated by the recent insecurity reports in some area councils of the territory.
The Minister said that the directive had become imperative in view of pockets of reported kidnapping cases and the forthcoming Ramadan festival.
She stressed the need for traditional rulers to re-strategise and strengthen areas of needs, blaming recent bandits’ attacks in some communities of Abaji area council on failure of intelligence gathering.
Aliyu stated that security agencies should not wait until attacks are launched on innocent residents before responding, but rather be proactive.
“In view of recent reports from Area Councils like Gwagwalada, Kwali and Bwari, there is every reason for us to come back, re-strategise and ask what is happening, where are we failing, and where we need to strengthen.
“We need to do an analysis of where our strength lies and where we need to fortify. In our expanded FCT Security meetings, we have all adequate committees in place and we have other sub-committees that are overseeing the affairs of security and intelligence gathering in the territory.
“Despite all these, we are still having reports of people invading communities and our peace especially in the satellite towns, where the terrains are difficult.
“Therefore, the royal fathers who are the custodians of the people should come up with new strategies that will put an end to this menace.”
The Minister said that the FCT Administration is doing everything possible in creating jobs for the teeming youths and women in rural communities across the six area councils, saying this is a way of checking problems.
In attendance at the meeting was a representative of the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Samuel Atang, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Mr. Ben Igweh, and Chairman FCT Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr. Adamu Yunusa.
Others included Mandate Secretary of Area Council Services, Malam Abubakar Dantsoho, representative of the Director DSS, Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abdullahi Candido, and his counterparts from Abaji, Kwali and Kuje, amongst others.
(NAN)