The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has directed the immediate closure of all illegal mining camps within the territory, citing their links to rising security threats in and around Abuja.
According to Assistant Director, Press Office of the Hon. Minister Rabi Musa Umar, this directive was announced by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Saka Adewale, during a press briefing on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. The briefing followed a high-level FCT Security Committee meeting chaired by the Minister at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja.
“The Honourable Minister has given a clear directive that all illegal mining activities around the city be shut down due to the grave security implications they pose,” the Police Commissioner stated.
Beyond the clampdown on illegal mining, the Committee reviewed other pressing security concerns in the territory. These included the proliferation of shanties, illegal internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, street begging, destitution, and traffic violations.
CP Adewale noted that the Minister emphasized the urgent need to rid the FCT of elements that threaten the safety and orderliness of the capital. “We are witnessing the unchecked spread of shanties and the rise in street begging and illegal IDP settlements. These are not only unsightly but pose real security concerns,” he added.
He disclosed that Operation Sweep, launched four months ago to address these issues, has so far recorded major successes:
- 273 destitute individuals removed from the streets and relocated to the Social Development Secretariat Centre in Bwari for care and profiling;
- 670 vehicles impounded for traffic-related offences including the use of tinted windows, covered number plates, and illegal commercial operations;
- Several arrests made for drug-related offences, with suspects handed over to the NDLEA.
The Minister also ordered a total clampdown on reckless drivers, particularly those using covered plates or driving against traffic. “Driving one-way is a suicide mission,” the CP emphasized.
On recent farmer-herder clashes in Gwagwalada Area Council, the Commissioner confirmed that the situation has been brought under control with stakeholders signing a peace accord. Security personnel remain deployed in the area to maintain peace and prevent reprisals.
The FCT Administration reiterated its commitment to creating a safe, clean, and law-abiding capital city through sustained enforcement and stakeholder collaboration.
