12th February, 2025
By Philip Yatai
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has directed security agencies to monitor the influx of “Almajiris” and other suspicious individuals into the territory.
Wike gave the order to security operatives during the FCT Security meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday,
FCT Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Olatunji Disu who disclosed this to journalists added that chairmen of the six area councils of the FCT also attended the meeting which was chaired by Wike.
Disu said that the minister has directed the security agencies to set up a committee to effectively monitor the influx of “Almajiris” and suspicious individuals into the territory.
Amlajiris are children who leave their families to study Islam in Qur’anic schools, mostly in the northern part of the country.
He said that the members of the committee would include all security operatives in the FCT, namely the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He explained that the committee would work with the chairmen of the area councils to identify Almajiri schools where children were brought to learn.
He added that the committee was also expected to profile the school owners and the content of the training.
The commissioner said that the committee would work with the owners of the school, particularly to find out from them what the government could do for them.
The steps, according to him, will ensure the safety of the children, the schools and the host communities.
Disu explained that the move was part of FCT Administration’s proactive measures in addressing security concerns in the territory.
He said that the committee was giving two weeks to report back to the minister.
He said that clearance operation was ongoing across the FCT, adding that five persons, suspecting could post security threats in the territory have been arrested and were being investigated.
“Meanwhile, we want to enjoin all residents of the FCT to be security conscious and take note of any new person coming into their areas and report to appropriate authorities
“Everybody should be security conscious. Please let us profile people coming into our environment; we need to know them,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Recall that an explosive device allegedly brought to Tsangagyar Sani Uthman Islamiyya School, Kuchibuyi, Bwari Area Council, Abuja by two Almajiri students from Katsina State claimed two lives on 7, January, 2025. was a case of national and international interest.
The students identified as Harisu Lawan and Usman Ibrahim, lost their lives after a device in their possession exploded at the School.
The students who were from Katsina State arrived at the community four days before the incident.
