FCTA warns traditional rulers against aiding, abetting crime
By Salisu Sani-Idris
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned that it would not spare any traditional ruler aiding and abetting criminality in his domain.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, issued the warning on Tuesday in Abuja during an emergency meeting of all the graded chiefs in the territory.
Aliyu said that with the recent security challenges in some parts of the territory, the graded chiefs should be in constant touch with the village heads.
She disclosed that FCTA would soon embark on an operation know your neighbour, stay safe, and stay alive campaign.
The minister stressed that such move would enable the administration to profile total strangers who do not have any business staying in the nation’s capital.
Aliyu used the occasion to confirm the security report recommending the suspension of the Chief of Anagada, Malam Alhassan Musa, in Gwagwalada Area Council.
“Regrettably, we are starting this gathering with security report indicting one of the royal fathers in Gwagwalada Area Council.
“I don’t know how it will end, but we must begin to look closely at ourselves or activities. Royal stools are now being bastardised by some traditional rulers.
“The security agencies in their reports indicted one of you and we tried as much as possible to see how we can get to the bottom of the matter.
“Unfortunately, it was overruled because the report is not ours. It came from one of the security agencies. Therefore, we are not in a position to look into his case.
“It is not in our character, no matter the level of poverty to betray the trust bestowed on you as a traditional ruler and the custodian of our tradition,” Aliyu said.
The minister directed the traditional rulers to liaise with their various village heads and warn them that those found wanting would not be spared.
She stated that no one had the right to accommodate total strangers or group of people especially “now that we are facing challenges of insecurity.
“You cannot accommodate strangers you do not know. The people you accommodate can betray you.
“The people you harbour in your communities can be informants or bandits. At the end of the day, we battle with insurgents,” she said.
Responding on behalf of the Chiefs, Alhaji Adamu Baba, the Chairman of FCT traditional council of chiefs and the Ona of Abaji, assured the minister that her message would be delivered to the village heads.
Baba used the opportunity to appeal to the authourities concerned to do anything possible to filling in the gaps in some chiefdom.
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