Traditional, political leaders in FCT decry high rate of insecurity
Story from Emmanuel OLOGUN, Abuja
Concerned traditional and political leaders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the high level of insecurity, especially kidnapping and robbery, within the territory and the nation at large.
The leaders, who observed that kidnapping and armed robbery have doubled in the FCT in recent times called for a change in the strategies deployed in the effort to tackle insecurity.
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Leading the campaign for a thorough review of the strategies used in the war against insecurity, the chairman of the FCT Traditional Rulers Council and the Onah of Abaji, HRH Alhaji Adamu Baba- Yunusa, urged the ruling elite to employ broad based policies that will address rising unemployment, youth restiveness, hunger and the general discontent among the nation’s population.
The monarch regretted that kidnappers now move from house-to-house, especially in Abaji and other area councils like Kuje, Kwali and Bwari to abduct people for ransom without resistance or counter measures by security personnel, pointing out that residents are gradually deserting their homes as a result of the menace.
Alhaji Yunusa, who made these remarks while interacting with newsmen at his palace in Abaji during the Sallah celebrations, said emphatically that the ruling class can reduce and even stop insecurity when the right attitude and political will are mustered to effectively engage the youths and the larger population in frequent dialogue as well as by reducing the level of suffering, hardship and agitations in the country.
“We pray to Almighty Allah to bring to an end the issue of insecurity which is the biggest challenge in the country now. We cannot sleep again here in Abaji but we are hoping that the President will do more and with the intervention of Allah the problem will be over.
“Members of the community vanguards and vigilante groups should unite, cooperate and collaborate with other security agencies to enable them do their work in the proper manner to secure the areas for effective results,” he said.
Baba Yunusa also appealed to the populace to be patient with leaders and prayer for the peace and development in the country stressing that with the arrival of the rainy season, the nation requires peace and security for people to return to the farms to produce food for the population.
He also appealed to politicians at all levels to bury their differences and work for the unity and progress of the nation pointing out that without unity, Nigeria will continue to crawl despite its vast economic resources without achieving its potential for greatness as the most populous nation in Africa.
Incoming Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Umar Abubakar Abdullahi, who will be sworn into office before the end of May, promised to tackle insecurity as a priority item in the first 100 days in office by first reorganising the internal security system especially the Abaji community vigilante groups to make them more effective.
Abubakar assured the people of Abaji, while speaking with newsmen, that peace and security will be guaranteed during his period as chairman but he urged them to adopt a more positive attitude towards their security by being vigilant to alert security personnel of strangers who may infiltrate the communities for proper action.
He urged other politicians who contested for the last FCT election with him to bring whatever ideas they may have forward for incorporation into his plans for the overall development of the territory.
Also, the incoming Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Abubakar Giri, who spoke in a separate interview, assured that the projects abandoned during his first tenure as chairman such as the Gwagwalada Town Hall and dilapidated township roads will be completed while internal security will be given top priority in the first 100 days in office.
“People should remain calm and peaceful in the spirit of the Sallah celebration. If there is no peace, there will be no development. We need development and my first effort will be to tackle insecurity and complete the vital projects that were abandoned for long. We would continue from where we stopped. These projects are very important for the people. For example the town hall and the executive chambers must be completed in the first 100 days. We need to complete them and also tackle insecurity,” he assured.
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