From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Acting Zonal Director of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, has disclosed that Visa racketeering, cybercrimes, and illegal mining are becoming alarming in Kaduna State and appealed to journalists to enlighten the general public on the danger of engaging in such crimes.
He said this during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) along with his management team today, Friday.
Kaltungo, who was newly posted to the Zonal Directorate, expressed gratitude to the NUJ members for the support and cooperation given to the Commission over the years and pleaded that the support should be sustained for the good of the society.
This was as the NUJ chairman, Abdulgafar Alabelewe assured the EFCC Director of the Union’s support to educate the society to keep off crimes at all times.
The EFCC Director called on journalists in the State to always feel free to balance their stories from the Commission to avoid damaging the image and reputation of the Commission whenever the need arises.
“It is part of our routine that whenever a new Zonal Director is appointed, we come on a courtesy visit to our strategic partners, of which NUJ is one of them. It is a thank you visit and to ask for more support like Oliver Twist. The collaboration that exists between NUJ and EFCC cannot be separated.
“So we are here to say thank you for all that you have been doing and to encourage you that if there is any report that will portray the Commission in a bad image, you can reach out to us so that you can have a balanced report. So this is the essence of our coming to you.
“You are going to look out for a renewed vigor in the fight against corruption, and this issue of cybercrimes that our youths are indulged in is becoming alarming. So the Commission is devising a new strategy to nib it in the bud.
“So we don’t want it to spread because if youths who are the leaders of tomorrow and today are engaged in corruption, what does it mean tomorrow? Does it mean that corrupt people will be in a position of leadership tomorrow? It means that there will be no development and progress. It is now incumbent on us to nib it in the bud.
“Another trend that we discovered in Kaduna that is alarming is the issue of Visa racketeering, more especially during lesser Hajj and during a pilgrimage, what we call Baban Sallah. You find out that a lot of people have been duped of their hard-earned money in the name of a Visa by travel agents, in the name of international passports, and stuff like that.
” So many people have parted with their money without getting value for it. It is alarming in Kaduna State. And to worsen it, even married women are involved in it.
“So we want to use this opportunity to appeal to couples to advise their fellow couple to desist from such act because it is not our wish to go and arrest a married woman but when she got herself involved, definitely the law does not say that married men or women have immunity, we will go after them.
“So we want to call on the people of Kaduna State and Niger State to make sure that people are not involved in anything that will attract us to them.
“Another area that is so disturbing, which has terrorism related to, and banditry related to, is the issue of illegal mining, which is becoming alarming. Everybody wants to go into illegal mining.
” You cannot go into mining without appropriate documents from the appropriate authorities. Mining is an exclusive preserve of the federal government.
“So, for any company and for any individual to go into mining, they must obtain a license from the federal Ministry of Mining. You cannot go on your own and start doing mining.
“We want to call on the people that are into illegal mining to make sure that they obtain a proper license so that they will not incur the wrath of the Commission because by the time we arrest you doing illegal mining, certainly, we will take you to Court.
“And we have been doing that. We want to thank NUJ for the support. And also call on NUJ to continue to cooperate with us and support to enlighten the public about what we do and let them understand what we do at the Commission,” Kaltungo said.
In his response, Alabelewe said, First of all, I want to assure you on behalf of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council that as media practitioners we don’t have any option than to support what EFCC is doing because our training we are socially responsible to the society and as well hold public officers accountable to members of the society.
We have enjoyed a good working relationship with the Kaduna Directorate of the EFCC over the years through the media department.
“I want to assure you that we will continue with this good working relationship with the Commission. I want to assure you that NUJ doors are open, and anytime you need our services, we are willing to render our services. You can reach out to us at any time, and we will do the needful. Once again I welcome you to Kaduna NUJ”.
