Business Post Contributor
By Bliss Okperan
The FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has vowed to put an end to illegal mining activities in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The immediate past Governor of Rivers State said this after he was notified of a landslide that claimed the lives of at least 30 persons a few days ago in the Kuje Area Council of the FCT.
The Minister, at a meeting with the six area council chairmen in Abuja on Thursday, promised to work in collaboration with his counterpart in the Ministry of Solid Minerals, Mr Dele Alake, to put an end to illegal mining in FCT.
Mr Wike called the meeting with the council bosses after it was reported yesterday that 19 persons were kidnapped in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja.
He pledged to work with local authorities and the police to rescue the kidnapped victims.
“I will talk to the Minister [of Solid Minerals about the illegal mining activities in the FCT].
“Ordinarily, I would say you should also form your own surveillance taskforce as Chief Security Officers of your councils and make arrests, and we will support you. However, I will meet with the Minister,” he said at the meeting.
The Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya, told the Minister of the challenges he and his colleagues face in addressing insecurity.
“We have the major challenge of insecurity across the six Area Councils. Just today (Thursday), about 19 people were kidnapped in the Bwari Area Council. I just received about five people in my council, who were in captivity for about six days,” he said.
Reacting, Mr Wike said he would have a chat with the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Commissioner of Police in FCT on how to rescue the victims.
“Insecurity is a major problem all over, and those of you who are outside the Municipality, you have to work hard; information is key.
“The incident of kidnap you talked about, nobody has reported that to me. It is a serious issue, and we need to call an emergency security meeting.
“I have to call the Director of SSS and the CP now to give me more details because it is very embarrassing to me. I am happy you said the SSS official and the DPO in the affected council are informed on the situation,” he said.
