The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike has assured Abuja residents of adequate security
He gave the assurance during a town hall meeting with residents in the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, following reports of kidnapping for ransom and killing in the territory, within the past week.
The meeting was attended by former Senator representing the FCT, Philip Aduda, the Etsu-Bwari, Sarkin-bwari and the Chairman of the Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Minister had summoned an emergency security meeting with heads of security agencies in the FCT, top officials of the FCT Administration and Chairmen of the six area councils, where he stated that the administration was aware of the security situation in the territory.
Speaking at the town hall meeting on Wednesday, the Minister said that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had instructed him to provide all that the security agencies would need, adding that it would no longer be business as usual, and enough was enough.
Wike added that “Security is one of the key priorities of Mr. President’s administration. Yesterday, Mr President summoned a high-level security meeting, which includes all the Service Chiefs, the Minister of Defence, and my humble self, because of recent attacks, particularly in Bwari. And so, currently, it is one of the key priorities, that Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda will want to face squarely.”
According to Wike “It is no longer going to be business as usual. everything has to be done to protect lives and property. Without protection of lives and property, then we have no business in government. My coming here today is to assure you that we are very serious. All those criminals, bandits, enough is enough. We will do everything in our power to make sure that we will not allow this to happen again. That is why just this morning, Mr. President has given me approval, to provide everything required to the security agencies. And just like what Etsu-Bwari and Sarkin-Bwari said, it is not by merely talking, we are serious.
“Security agencies will not have any reason to say that they are not equipped; we will provide everything required. I know how big Bwari is, I know that you have boundaries with three states: Niger State, Kaduna State and Nasarawa State. I know because these bandits were chased away from the Northeast, so they are making their way here, we will make it hot for them”, he said.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya, disclosed that the Council comprised of 16 districts and over 90 villages and hamlets, adding that the size and difficult terrain of the Council made the security challenges more difficult.
He therefore requested the provision of needed logistics to security agencies in the area, adding that they would require at least a vehicle and 7 motorcycles in each district for effective patrol and surveillance, while also appealing for training and retraining of hunters and villagers, engaged by the Council for their security.
All heads of security agencies in the territory led by FCT commissioner of police, Garba Haruna, the Sarkin Bwari, Etsu Bwari, Senator representing FCT, during eight and nine assembly, senator Philip Aduda, chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Imam, Bwari Area Council, hunters and vigilantees who are members of the joint task force in the council were present at the meeting.
Voice of Nigeria had earlier gathered that gunmen abducted and killed some residents, including 13-year-old teenager, Folashade Ariyo, who was kidnapped alongside 10 residents of the Sagwari Estate Layout in Dutse-Alhaji Area of Abuja, and Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-level student of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who was kidnapped alongside 22 other in Bwari.
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