Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa has proposed the enactment of by-laws banning the use of explosives including fire-works devices during festivities in Abaji and other parts of the territory.
The monarch remarked that the indiscriminate use of fire-works or incendiaries such as “knockouts” and other high-sounding explosives, such as the type produced by gun powder, makes it difficult for security personnel to know when armed criminals invade communities to attack or kidnap people during celebrations.
Alhaji Yunusa, made the proposal during the first security meeting of Abaji Emirate Council while responding to complaints by the Chairman of Abaji local vigilante group, Alhaji Alhassan Labaji, who condemned the indiscriminate and frequent use of fire-works, even at wedding ceremonies.
The monarch promptly set-up a five-man committee of community leaders headed by the Madaki to dialogue with the Chairman of Abaji, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Abdullahi on how to formulate the bylaw and make it active before the end of this month.
According to the traditional ruler, who is also the Ona and Chairman of Abaji Traditional Rulers Council, no sacrifice will be too big for citizens to make at this period of insecurity and he urged the district, village and community leaders including titled chiefs at the meeting to caution their subjects against violating the bylaw when enacted warning that culprits will be severely sanctioned to serve as detriment.
Alhaji Yunusa also directed the assembled village and community leaders to focus more on ensuring peaceful coexistence and unity among the different ethnic groups in Abaji and other parts of the capital territory especially as the 2023 general election draws nearer.
He warned that the government will not tolerate conflicts in any community that may lead to attacks and reprisals from any quarters even as he reminded the leaders of the need for them to conduct themselves well as impartial arbiters in discharging their roles as peace makers in their communities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the local vigilante group, Alhaji Alhassan Abaji had complained about lack of cooperation from some members of the community who keep late nights and detonate fireworks at every little celebration.
The meeting adopted the proposal from one of the chiefs in attendance that another law should be promulgated to ban the public from keeping late nights and for a partial curfew to be imposed on Abaji starting from 10pm to help curb the menace of criminal elements especially kidnappers due to high rate of kidnapping in the area. About thirty district, village and community leaders, including titled chiefs and representatives of the local vigilante attended the meeting, which was presided over by the Ona of Abaji.
