…IG rallies forces too
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday called an emergency meeting to address the security situation in the nation’s capital, which has reportedly been going from bad to worse in recent times.
Security has been deteriorating in Abuja over the months, with the emergence and upsurge of more daring crimes, including kidnappings, armed robberies, burglaries and “one chance”, a ploy in which robbers pretend to be operators of commercial buses or taxis and then rob unsuspecting victims.
Responding to reports of rising incidents of crime in the FCT, Wike called a meeting of security operatives and other interest groups. These included heads of security agencies in the FCT, top officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), council chairmen, and traditional rulers.
Wike appraised the meeting of the troubling upsurge in criminal activities in the territory and challenged the stakeholders to be more alert, coordinated and rise up to the challenge.
He tasked the council chairmen to be more involved in the war against crime and assured the stakeholders as well as residents, that working together, they would prevail against the criminal elements and restore peace and tranquility to the FCT.
He said there was a need to re-order and enhance the security apparatus in the FCT to good effect.
Mrs.Remi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu had recently lamented the death of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, one of the young girls kidnapped on the outskirts of Abuja.
In a post on her X platform, Mrs.Tinubu sent her condolences to the family of the victim and charged security operatives to redouble their efforts.
“It is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the devastating loss of Nabeeha and extend my deepest condolences to her grieving family. In difficult moments like this, I urge the nation to join in fervent prayers for the safe return of these girls. Let us hold the families close to our hearts in prayers,” Mrs. Tinubu posted on Monday night.
“I implore our security agencies to intensify their efforts in addressing the pressing matter of kidnappings and insecurity in our nation. The safety and swift return of the Al-Kadriyar sisters and others in captivity should be our paramount concern.”
The Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has also called for the intensification of efforts to “decimate kidnappers and other criminally-minded individuals” in the Federal Capital Territory.
Egbetokun spoke on Tuesday after a meeting with the Force Management Team and Tactical Squads in Abuja following the worrying state of security in the nation’s capital.
