Wike orders shutdown of illegal mining sites in Abuja, crackdown on street begging

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has ordered the immediate shutdown of illegal mining sites in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Ajao Adewale, FCT commissioner of police, announced the directive on Tuesday after a security committee meeting chaired by the minister at his Life Camp residence.

“The issue of illegal mining springing up around the city has equally been of concern, and you would understand the security implications of this,” Adewale said.

“He (the minister) has given a directive that those illegal mining [sites] must be shut down.”

Adewale quoted Wike as reiterating his commitment to rid the FCT of street beggars, illegal internally displaced person (IDP) camps, and other elements considered as security threats.

The police boss also warned that traffic violations such as covered number plates and one-way driving would no longer be overlooked.

“Specifically, the issue of shanties springing up everywhere in the FCT has been of concern and importance to the honourable minister,” he said.

“We equally have the issue of these beggars and destitute persons all over the city… He has tasked the service commanders to continue addressing the situation to rid the streets of miscreants.

“Such is not recognised within the FCT. People need to be profiled, and if you have no reason to be here, we will relocate you to where you belong.”

‘273 DESTITUTE PERSONS EVACUATED, 670 VEHICLES IMPOUNDED’

Providing an update on operation sweep, a four-month enforcement drive, Adewale said 273 destitute people had been removed from the streets and placed at the Social Development Secretariat Centre in Bwari for profiling and care.

He said the exercise would continue, adding that over 670 vehicles were impounded for traffic offences such as tinted windows, covered number plates, and improper documentation.

He added that some of those arrested for drug-related offences have been handed over to the NDLEA.

“In the course of this operation, we have offences that relate to drug peddling, destitution and illegal begging,” he said.

Commenting on the recent farmers-herders clash in the Gwagwalada area council, Adewale said the situation had been brought under control.

He said stakeholders had signed a peace accord that would be cascaded down to local levels to ensure lasting peace.

“For now, all the services are still maintaining our presence in that environment in terms of confidence-building to ensure that we don’t have a repeat of that situation or any form of reprisal,” he added.