Smarting from the menace of scavengers, popularly called Mai Bola, cultists and drug abusers in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday declared war on them, hoping to smoke and flush them out.
The administration says it is part of its strategies to ensure the security of lives and properties of residents of the FCT.
FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello following the regular FCT Security Committee meeting held on Tuesday. 16th February, 2021.
According to him, the scavengers who often operate under the influence of hard drugs, perpetrate a lot of criminal activities within the Territory which will no longer be tolerated.
A statement by his spokesman, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, as saying, “each time there is crisis, you find that people of no known address, people without any means of livelihood suddenly come up with arms and start fighting each other and killing each other. All these are done under the influence of drugs and this is something that we are going to confront head-on”.
The scavengers, the Minister revealed, had hitherto concentrated their criminal activities on vandalizing public utilities but had now become major threats to lives and property, reiterating that their activities remain banned in the Federal Capital City
Malam Bello also said that there will now be an improved working synergy within the security and intelligence community in the FCT because the task of the provision of adequate security cannot be left to the police alone.
He also called for the support of the citizenry, especially in terms of providing intelligence to the security agencies.
Malam Bello said “We need citizens’ support, especially in terms of intelligence dissemination and also for leaders at all levels, whether it’s at the ward level or at the city level or at the village level or at the Area Council level”.
Continuing, he said “Political leaders at all level, as well as traditional and religious leaders have to play their part and we need to communicate and also encourage citizens to be law abiding and also to provide needed intelligence. Doing that, I think by the grace of God, we will surmount and continue to make FCT a very safe place for everybody”.
The Minister added that the security agencies also briefed the Committee on their plans and strategies to fight the kidnappings that occur, especially in communities outside the Federal Capital City.
Malam Bello also said that efforts will be made to continue to encourage the cordial relationship between herders and farmers within the FCT in order to prevent clashes between them.
On her part, the Honourable Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu equally reassured the residents of the Territory of their safety as the Administration was not unaware of the security challenges and is taking all necessary measures for the protection of lives and property.
She disclosed that the Administration was paying great attention to the reoccurrence of the Ebola Virus disease in Guinea taking into consideration that the FCT was an international gateway into Nigeria.
Dr Tijjani Aliyu also called on private clinics running the COVID-19 tests without reporting their finding to the relevant health authorities to desist from doing so. She called for the full disclosure of all mortalities suspected to be to COVID-19 so that post mortems can be carried out on the deceased so that their relations can receive adequate care