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By Fred Itua, Abuja
The disturbing insecurity in the nation’s capital has been in the news since the end of 2023. Since the ugly trend started, scores of residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been abducted, while a few others have been killed by assailants.
•Wike addressing security personnel, others
Areas majorly affected by the ugly trend are Bwari, Kubwa, Lugbe and Kuje. The ugly incident reached the peak when a family of four girls was abducted in Bwari by the daredevil assailants.
•Wike with traditional rulers
However, the trend appears to have abated since the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, stepped up the offensive to the criminals. Since the onslaught started, reprieve has come to affected areas. It may not be uhuru yet, but the signs are good.
Wike’s first move started two weeks ago when he summoned an emergency security meeting. During the meeting with security agents, Wike assured residents that the FCT Administration and security agencies were not sleeping. He begged residents not to panic.
He said: “We are all aware of the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Bwari and some other areas that we have witnessed security challenges. I am also aware that sometimes too, the Press overblow what is happening but indeed we owe a duty to make sure that FCT is safe.
“We will do all we can and we assure Nigerians who reside here that there is no need for panic. We are taking every step to make sure that those challenges are things that we must have to resolve.
“So, this meeting is practically to look into such challenges and see how we will be able to resolve the problems and that is why we invited all the council chairmen because, they also have a responsibility in their various area councils.
“We will put our heads together and come up with solutions. For the press, this is just for you to know that we are not sleeping, security also are not sleeping. We will give every support that they require in order take away the fears of the citizens or residents.”
The minister, during the meeting, warned council chairmen against unnecessary trips. He said they must remain in their councils and take responsibility for issues within their purview.
He added: “This time around, we will not be happy, where Area Council Chairmen will leave their responsibilities and travel out. We have gotten reports that Council Chairmen travel anytime and then, if anything happens, they will not call anybody’s name except the FCT Minister.
“Recently, the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT embarked on strike and it is not our fault but the Area Councils. Primary schools are under the body of the Area Councils but again, it will look as if the Ministers are doing nothing but that is not our responsibility. However, we cannot fold our hands and we have invited them to this meeting to see how we can resolve the problem.
“So, Council chairmen should know that, they must live up to their responsibilities. It is not everything that happens, they would say that it is the Ministers that have not taken steps. So, for your information, we are doing everything we can to resolve the security challenges we are recently facing.”
Within the same week, Wike commenced a tour of the six Area Councils, where he met with political leaders, community leaders, stakeholders and traditional rulers.
The first point of call was Bwari Area Council, the epicentre of the kidnapping epidemic. During the town hall meeting, Wike promised to address the security concerns and restore sanity to the Territory.
Wik, during the meeting, announced the arrest of some informants working for kidnappers who had for some weeks launched daring attacks on some parts of the Territory.
The minister said the time was up for kidnappers and their informants, vowing to go after them.
Speaking in pidgin, Wike said: “The president has asked me to come here today. The other day I was in Bwari and next week I will go to Kwali.
“Security is one thing the president promised Nigerians because his job is to protect lives and property. If we can’t protect lives and property, then we have no reason being in government.
“The president has asked me to assure you that he will not abandon you. So, all these criminals, be ready. Your time is up. You know if I say I will do something, I will do it. And now that I am here today, if you know you are an informant or even one of the criminals, the end has come for you. I and security agencies will follow you to the point that you won’t enter Gwagwalada again.
“Some of the people giving them information, we have arrested them. If they haven’t arrested you, it doesn’t mean that we won’t arrest you tomorrow or even before we leave this place.”
Responding to requests for more police divisions in the council, the minister told the representative of the police commissioner to work out the modalities.
He said: “The CP should work out how we can provide two more police divisions in Gwagwalada. We must do this immediately. It is a security matter and must not be bogged down by bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“The president has given me power to buy more vehicles. By next week, we shall give more vehicles to all police stations. We shall give them modern communication gadgets. The president has said he does not want to hear any story of kidnapping in Abuja again and the security agencies have promised to rise to the occasion. We are very serious. We are not playing. But we need your support too because security agencies cannot do this work alone. They need information. When you give them information, they will work better.”
He again reiterated his earlier advice to residents to stop crowdfunding for ransom, saying such action only serves to fuel more kidnapping.
He said: “It is not also good to go to the radio to raise ransoms. It is a way of encouraging criminals. We know it is not easy when your people are in captivity but we have to avoid raising ransom. It fuels the activities of kidnappers.”
In his unrelenting efforts, he directed the six Area Council Chairmen in the nation’s capital to set up vigilante groups and also ensure the immediate profiling of members of the groups.
Speaking during a security meeting with members of the FCT Council of Chiefs and the council Chairmen, the Minister said the Administration would continue to work with the traditional rulers to ensure adequate security in the nation’s capital.
He said: “We have asked all the Area Councils to set up vigilance teams and we believe that those vigilance teams won’t be the ones perpetrating the crimes. Therefore, they must be profiled so that they are known. Who are they? Are they from our communities? So that we won’t say we want to solve a problem and then cause another one. They (chairmen) will have to do that with you (traditional rulers).
“We have told the police and other security agencies to itemise all their needs and we are going to meet them so that our people can sleep comfortably with their eyes closed.
“We thought that there is a need to meet with you and the council chairmen so that we can work in synergy and be on the same page. If there are things you think we should do too, we are willing to partner with you so that the challenges we are facing now will be a thing of the past.
“You must work hard because insecurity is not written on anybody’s face. Anyone can be a victim and that is why we must do everything possible to ensure that our subjects are not victims of these criminals.
“We are not folding our hands we are not sleeping. We are working 24 hours round twh clock.
“Again, you would have heard that we are demolishing shanties. You know criminals won’t want to live in known houses. They commit crimes and run to shanties that can’t be easily traced. So, we will continue to demolish shanties. You need to support us. You don’t allow people to bring propaganda. There is nothing like that.”
He also reiterated his resolve to roll out buses in order to reduce the incidences of ‘one chance’ or taxi robberies.
He said: “Very soon we are going to roll out our buses which will be painted in Abuja colours and we won’t allow taxis that are not painted in our colours to operate so that this issue of one chance can be eliminated.”
He said before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed for France on Wednesday, he had asked him to inform the traditional rulers that government was doing all within its powers to secure the nation.
“We sincerely thank all of you for your concerns and efforts. Before Mr President departed this afternoon he said I should inform you that government is doing all within its powers to curb insecurity. Already, the government has shown strength. It has shown courage in fighting insecurity across the country.
“This is the FCT where many Nigerians want to come and stay and so we are more concerned because when the capital is threatened, the whole country is threatened. So, we are very serious with security. We are not sleeping. We are working 24 hours.
“We have met with the councils and we have told them the little we need which is information to be able to help security agencies that are directly involved in the fight against criminalities. Nobody would say there is anywhere in this world no matter how developed that has no form of insecurity or the other.
“The only difference is that it is either nipped in the bud or you are sure that if it happens the criminals are caught. But that is not an excuse for us. We are ready to ensure it doesn’t happen or when it happens, the perpetrators are arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.
“The president has given us series of approvals to make sure that security agencies are fully equipped to fight this crime and we cannot do this alone without your support. You have a role to play in securing your domains. You know those around your domain. If there are unfamiliar faces, you can let the council chairmen know, so as to report to my office so that actions can be taken,” he added.
After the tour of Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Abaji, Kwali and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), and the New offensive against kidnappers, residents may get a reprieve soon
