The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the profiling of areas worst hit by kidnappers in the territory.

Mukhtar Galadima, director of development control, FCTA, who led the exercise in Abuja on Tuesday, said the exercise was to ascertain the causes of the kidnappings and suggest solutions.

The exercise began with Sagwari Layout Estate, Dutse, in Bwari Area Council, where kidnappers abducted some residents recently.

Me Galadima explained that the officials, with the support of security personnel, would identify buildings without approval and other illegal activities in the area.

Represented by the deputy director of monitoring and enforcement, Hassan Ogbole, Mr Galadima blamed the poor planning of the area on the community leaders and some of his personnel.

He pointed out that the area was surrounded by structures that were built without the approval of the FCTA development control department.

The director added that after profiling the area, the department would recommend necessary measures to curb criminal activities.

“We observed the recent growing chain of illegal developments within the ecologically sensitive zone to the lower Usuma Dam, which is supposed to be a secured side.

“Activities of illegal developers are a threat to the FCT Administration and the Dam. On several occasions, we have taken steps to carry out enforcement, but they remained unabated.

“The government will not condone this. In physical planning, there are places that we reserve; these are reserved areas.

“So, we will put up our report and recommendations to the appropriate quarters and see what could be done,” he said.

Peter Olumuji, secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security Services, FCTA, said locals’ illegal activities promoted the lapses.

“What we have seen here shows the level of insensitivity from the village chief.

“Most of the people we interacted with said they got the lands from the village chief with no concern about the safety of lives and property within the area.

“People must also stop buying land from village chiefs. They don’t have the power in FCT to sell land. They are only interested in the monetary gain and not the safety of the people,” he said. 

(NAN)