The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed security agencies to monitor the influx of almajirai and people that could pose security threats into FCT.

The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Olatunji Disu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the FCT Security Committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting, chaired by Mr Wike, was attended by the chairmen of the six area councils of the FCT.

Mr Disu said the minister has directed the security agencies to set up a committee to effectively monitor the influx of “Almajirai” and suspicious individuals into the territory.

Amlajirai are children who leave their families to study Islam in Qur’anic schools, mostly in the northern part of the country.

He said the members of the committee would include all security operatives in the FCT, namely the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Navy, State Security Service and 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 the committee would work with the owners of the school, particularly to find out from them what the government could do for them.

According to him, the steps will ensure the safety of the children, the schools and the host communities.

Mr Disu explained that the move was part of FCT Administration’s proactive measures to address security concerns in the territory.

He said the committee was given two weeks to report back to the minister.

Mr Disu said a clearance operation was ongoing across the FCT, adding that five persons suspected of being able to pose security threats in the territory had 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)