INSECURITY: WIKE SUMMONS EMERGENCY MEETING WITH SECURITY CHIEFS, COUNCIL CHAIRMEN 16-01-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has assured residents of the FCT that there is no need to panic, adding that he and other security agencies were not sleeping, and were aware of the security challenges in the territory.
This is even as the Minister on Tuesday, summoned an emergency closed-door meeting with heads of security agencies in the FCT, as well as Chairmen of the six Area Councils
Recall that public outcry had trailed reports of the deaths of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, who was kidnapped along with 22 others in the Bwari Area of the FCT, and 13-year-old Folasade Ariyo, who was kidnapped alongside eleven others, among whom were three of her siblings, and their mother at the Sagwari Estate Layout, in Dutse-Alhaji Area of Abuja.
Following the killing of Folashade Ariyo, and two others, the kidnappers had proceeded to demand N700m in ransom for the rest of the victims, after initially demanding N60m, leading the Father of the late Folashade, Mr Oladosu Ariyo, to solicit help from the Nigerian Bar Association.
Addressing journalists before the meeting held behind closed doors, Mr. Wike said himself and the Area Council Chairmen will join heads together, to proffer solutions to the security challenges in the territory, noting that they owed a duty to make sure Abuja was safe.
“All of us are aware of the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Bwari and some other areas that have witnessed security challenges. Our concern is that for the Federal Capital Territory that has virtually every Nigerian, we owe a duty to make sure that this place is safe, to 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 are 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. So, we will put our heads together and come up with solutions. So, for the press, it is just for you to know that we are not sleeping, security agencies are also not sleeping. We will provide every support that they require in order to allay the fears of the citizens”, he said.
Mr. Wike also stated that he will not be happy to receive news of Area Council Chairmen abdicating responsibilities and travelling, especially while there were security challenges in their various councils.
“This time around, we will not be happy where Area Council Chairmen will abdicate their responsibility and travel out. We have gotten reports that council chairmen travel anytime, and then if anything happens, of course, they will not call anybody’s name, they will call the FCT Minister. However, we cannot fold our hands, we have invited them to a meeting this afternoon to see how we can also resolve the problem”, the Minister said.