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Tag: Wike

  • Wike to Abuja residents: we need information to tackle bandits

    Wike to Abuja residents: we need information to tackle bandits

    Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has urged Abuja residents to always provide vital information to help combat kidnapping and killings in the nation’s capital.

    Wike also directed the Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the territory to strengthen the local vigilance teams in their areas by ensuring that their needs are adequately met.

    Speaking at a security town hall meeting with stakeholders and residents of Kwali Area Council on Tuesday, January 23, in Kwali town, Abuja, Wike said his administration has almost concluded procurement processes for more security vehicles.

    Promising to ensure a swift deployment of the vehicles, Wike also requested the councils to provide more motorcycles to the vigilance teams.

    He said: “I have listened to what the chairman has said. The chairman has virtually requested everything but he has not told me what he has done.

    “We need information to tackle the problem of kidnapping and banditry.

    “For me, whatever that is going to bring development or improve security, the government has no hesitation. The president has directed me to let you know he feels your pains and that is why he has said I must go and see all the councils, talk to them and tackle insecurity headlong.

    “I can assure you that in a matter of days, you will be hearing positive stories. We are ready to support our security agencies in whatever they need to ensure that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed. We have almost concluded the procurement of vehicles for security agencies. We are going to provide the councils with motorcycles to support the vigilance teams so that they can get information and assist the security agencies.

    Read Also: FCTA allays fears over Lassa fever outbreak in Abuja

    “Our youths, we have directed the council chairmen to ensure that the vigilance teams are well taken care of. We need information from you because, without information, the security agencies would have little or nothing to do. If you give them information on time, they will make sure that bad things don’t happen”

    On the issue of some bad roads fueling kidnapping, the minister asked the council chairman to recommend two more roads in addition to the earlier ones recommended to the FCT Administration for reconstruction.

    Promising that the President Bola Tinubu administration would not abandon the people of FCT, Wike said every year before submitting any budget proposal to the National Assembly, he would meet with traditional rulers and the people to get their input by way of getting them to recommend people-oriented projects that can be incorporated into the budget.

    “We will not abandon you. We will make sure we develop the Area Councils. Before the end of the tenure of President Tinubu, you will see a lot of infrastructure going on in the Area Councils.

    “Every year before we submit our budget to the NASS, we will come to you the traditional rulers and the people to ask you what your infrastructure needs are so that we can include them in the budget. We won’t abandon any project. If we don’t have the money we won’t embark on any project”, he declared.

    Earlier, the Kwali Area Council Chairman, Danladi Chiya had listed several challenges facing the Council and asked for the establishment of a police division in Gwako as well as a military base in another part of the council.

    He said: “We have a lot of challenges security-wise. Indeed, we have challenges because of the hills surrounding Kwali. There are bad roads that the bad guys also use to abduct people. The roads are not motorable. Come to our aid to help put the roads in good shape. That will help reduce the incidences of kidnapping.

    “We also require further military presence. We have vast lands. We need more police stations, especially in Gwako which has become a haven for these bad elements.

    “We will write to your office because there is another road that has been abandoned by the contractors. Wherever they discover that the roads are not good, they use such spots as hideouts.

    “Our people are prepared to chase them, but for the bad roads.

    “Then our stadium in Kwali, the bad boys have turned it into a hideout. There is little we could do on the stadium because it is an FCDA project.

    “We also need motorcycles for the vigilance teams. I have given them some before but we need more and therefore I seek your intervention in this regard.”

  • Inadequate equipment, operational vehicles hampering war against banditry, kidnappings – Wike

    Inadequate equipment, operational vehicles hampering war against banditry, kidnappings – Wike

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, on Monday said that inadequate equipment and operational vehicles were hampering ongoing war against banditry and kidnappings in FCT.

    Wike, who said this during a media chat with journalists in Abuja, also blamed the recent surge in kidnappings in some border communities of the FCT to lack of equipment to track criminals.

    He, however, assured residents that the security challenges would soon be addressed following the approval for emergency procurement by President Bola Tinubu.

    He said that the approval was for procurement of digital tracking tools and operational vehicles to help halt kidnappers in their tracks.

    “So many facilities were not provided and vehicles for the security agencies are not there.

    “You cannot believe that equipment to track criminals are not there and when anything happens, security agencies go back to the Office of the National Security Adviser or to the Force Headquarters.

    “That is not the way it is supposed to be,” minister said.

    According to him, security agencies need special equipment to be able to reduce the level of crime, particularly those that will help them to track specific locations of phone users.

    He said that the FCT Administration had been able to identify what each of the security agencies needed and would be provided through the emergency procurement.

    “Again, before we came on board, the police had said that they had requested procurement of a certain number of motorcycles where vehicles cannot get to – the remote areas. Some of these areas are mountainous.

    Read Also: Senate will invite Wike over Abuja insecurity -Kingibe

    “Unfortunately, the motorcycles were not provided, but we have been able to do that now,” he said.

    Wike, who said security was not only about equipment, added that the personnel needed motivation.

    According to him, this needs to be worked out to ensure success of security operations.

    He added that the FCTA would also establish a Joint Task Force with a full command and control structure and well equipped to respond in security emergencies.

    “The next thing is to set up a joint security outfit here, where they have their own structure and equipment so that if anything happens, the task force will know it is its function and move in.

    “Yes, it will cost us some funds and it will take us some time, but what is important is that we have identified that this is a lacuna that we have to cover’’, the minister said.  (NAN)

  • Tinubu’s approval for emergency procurement of security gadgets will curb kidnapping, killings – Wike

    Tinubu’s approval for emergency procurement of security gadgets will curb kidnapping, killings – Wike

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate procurement of sophisticated security equipment to further combat kidnapping and killings in Abuja.

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike disclosed this during an interview with reporters on Monday, January 22.    

    Wike, who was happy with the president’s action, also said informants recently arrested by security operatives linked to the recent kidnappings and killings in the nation’s capital are giving vital information that could lead to the arrest of others.

    The minister who did not give details of the arrested bandits said information obtained from the suspects had led to the arrest of some kidnappers who were paraded by the Police at the weekend.

    According to him, security agencies have also been able to foil more attacks, saying the government is not resting on its oars.

    While he lamented that the lack of adequate equipment in the past had led to recent unpleasant events, Wike said with the emergency procurement approval by the president, the story would now change.

    He said: “So many facilities were not provided. Vehicles for the security agencies are not there. You cannot believe that equipment to track criminals is not there. When anything happens, they go back to the Office of the National Security Adviser or the Force Headquarters. That is not the way it is supposed to be.

    “When I was the Governor of Rivers state, the DSS told me they wanted a particular piece of equipment. We were the only state that had it then. In fact, sometimes the headquarters asked for its use. That is a special equipment they needed and that equipment, we know how expensive it is but we had it and that was able to help us reduce the level of crime. It was able to track the specific phones, not one that would say for example the criminals are around the city here. With that equipment, it was specific. It can track a particular phone to the exact spot or room. So, what we have done with the approval of Mr President, giving us approval for emergency procurement, we have been able to identify what each of the agencies need and we will be able now to provide them.

    “Again, before we came on board, the police had said that they had requested procurement of a certain number of motorcycles where vehicles cannot get to- the remote and mountainous areas. Unfortunately, they were not provided but we are going to do that now.

    “Security is not just the equipment. You also have to motivate the personnel. I don’t want to talk about the strategies because we are talking about security now.

    “Assuming Mr. President did not approve this emergency procurement, we had been to the Bureau for Public Procurement since December to allow it to procure under emergency. If you don’t and you have to go through the whole hog of the processes, it can take you two months and that is not what you tell members of the public, that the procurement process is a problem. No.

    “The basic thing is having identified all these and the security agencies have told us this is what they require, we had to do the needful. We have even gone further to ask the state director of DSS about what they would need to tackle this menace. What kind of equipment do you want? Not that if anything happens, you have to run to your headquarters to seek assistance. Before you go to your headquarters, something else would have happened. But if you have this equipment, you don’t need to seek approval of your headquarters to begin to seek equipment to track the criminals.”

    Read Also: Tinubu calls for global tax system review 

    According to the minister, while the Administration cannot set up its own security agency like the subnational entities, he said the FCTA would however establish a Joint Task Force with a full command and control structure as well as relevant equipment to be able to respond in cases of security emergencies.

    He said: “The next thing is to set up a joint security outfit here where they have their structure and equipment so that if anything happens the task force will know it is their function to move in. Yes, it will cost us some funds and it will take us some time but what is important is that we have identified that this is a lacuna that we have to cover.”

    On the informants, the minister said: “The efforts of our security agencies have yielded the arrests of informants who have told us what they were planning and you should have known too that we have also taken steps but we won’t belabor that. All we can assure you is that you don’t need to panic. Everything is being done to ensure the protection of lives and property.”

  • Between Deji Adeyanju and Wike

    Between Deji Adeyanju and Wike

    • By Gift Worlu

    Social commentaries are tools that have been used to turn nations around. But, there is another angle to commenting on social issues in this social media age. Now, every Tom, Dick and Harry has turned the public space into public gutter where anything and everything can be dumped and the unsuspecting public, at times, is misled. 

    One such instance of improper application of the social space took place some days back when self-acclaimed human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, berated the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, over the rising insecurity in Abuja. He even threatened to mobilise Nigerians to take to the streets to demand justice and security for all because he was deeply outraged by the rampant cases of kidnappings and killings in Abuja in recent months. His intervention appeared well-intentioned, but he left traces of a bitter man playing politics with a serious issue. He outed himself as one who speaks and thinks later and left one with no choice but to wonder if there is a master somewhere dictating the tune after paying piper. 

    He said that Wike bears a significant responsibility for the escalating insecurity in the capital city. His justification of this claim is not just ridiculous but further shows a man out to play dirty. 

    Like a drowning man grabbing at anything to save his life, he even dragged Rivers State into the fray accusing the minister of preoccupying himself with politicking and engaging in power struggles. In his warped thinking, this politicking prevented him from his duty and left the people of Abuja exposed to the nefarious activities of criminals.

    The minister’s effort to clean up Abuja was turned into something to clown with. He claimed those dislocated for building houses illegally exacerbated the desperation and criminal activities in the city. He ridiculously claimed “the abrupt displacement of individuals, including scavengers and the destruction of shanties where disadvantaged people earned their livelihoods, had contributed to the current state of insecurity in the FCT”. And without any shred of proof, he claimed that the poor, who have been neglected and marginalised, resorted to kidnapping in their pursuit of survival. 

    The only thing Adeyanju got right was his call on the security agencies to enhance their intelligence-gathering capabilities and redouble their efforts to make Abuja safe. He came close to asking the president to show the minister the exit door from his government. 

    After a deep reflection on his jaundiced statement, I believe Adeyanju needs to be educated. And I will do that for him at no cost. One, the minister has not been idle. Arrests of some informants working for kidnappers have been made. Wike has held a town hall meeting with various stakeholders and residents in Gwagwalada town, and they will face the law.

    Two, like the president, the minister doesn’t toy with the protection of lives and property because he knows that if government can’t protect lives and property, then it is useless.

    Three, the minister takes seriously, the president’s readiness to ensure criminals’ time is up. And as someone who does what he promises, criminals are in for a shock. 

    Three, more informants and criminals will be arrested. The minister has given this assurance and the police have been told to work out the modalities for more police formations. He is committed to add two more police divisions in Gwagwalada. More operational vehicles are also in the works for all police stations. There is also plan to give them modern communication gadgets. 

    Read Also: Wike: no project will be abandoned under Tinubu

    Lastly, Adeyanju needs to be serious if he wants to be taken seriously as a human rights activist. The way he has gone about the security challenges in Abuja paints him in bad light.

    There is one more important thing Adeyanju must know: Wike is a performer in all the political positions he has held and everything he has had interest in. As chairman of Obi/Akpor LGA, he was adjudged the best in the country. He built the best LGA headquarters in Nigeria till date. As governor, he was celebrated as Mr Quality projects by the then vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. Later, the president awarded him the best governor in infrastructure delivery, notwithstanding that Wike was the fiercest critic of the Buhari administration. Now as Minister of FCT, Abuja is already wearing a new look under a few months of Wike’s administration of the city. If Adeyanju and his co-travellers expected Wike to condone the rot that Abuja had been turned into and do nothing about the menace of scavengers and those distorting the master plan, then they need their heads to be subjected to psychiatric evaluation. Attempting to turn logic on its head by linking a commendable effort of government to restore sanity and order to Abuja as the cause of rising criminality is not only spurious, but smacks of jaundiced activism of one who only plays to the gallery. No wonder Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka recently said that “Barbarians have taken over the social media”. 

    Those who are well-meaning know that with what Wike is doing already, this obviously sponsored and politically orchestrated insecurity in Abuja will soon be a thing of the past. There is no hiding place for the wicked. 

    • Worlu, PhD, former Commissioner for Housing, Rivers State, writes from Port Harcourt. 
  • Abuja kidnappings: Informants working for bandits, kidnappers arrested – Wike

    Abuja kidnappings: Informants working for bandits, kidnappers arrested – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has announced the arrest of some informants working for kidnappers who had launched daring attacks on some parts of the territory.

    Wike, who disclosed this on Friday, January 19, during a town hall meeting with various stakeholders and residents in Gwagwalada town, Gwagwalada Area Council, said kidnappers and their informants, should get ready to face the law.

    The minister who spoke in pidgin 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 to be 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.

    Wike 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.

    Wike said: “It is also not good to go on 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.”

    Read Also: Wike: no project will be abandoned under Tinubu

    The minister also approved in principle a request by the Council chairman for the demolition of some uncompleted structures which he said criminals had been using as their safe havens.

    “By Monday, the chairman should bring the letter for me to approve the demolition of uncompleted structures where criminals are hibernating. Don’t behave like civil servants. Today is Friday. Ensure you bring the letter by Monday and I will be happy to approve it”, he stated.

    Earlier, chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri had said the council had not suffered many attacks since last year, but requested for more police divisions.

    He said: “From January last year to December, we here in Gwagwalada didn’t have many issues of kidnapping. We used to have before but with the synergy among stakeholders, it was reduced.

    “We have some undeveloped structures and I will write to your office for approval because that is where criminals hibernate. I will write to you for approval so that we can clear all those structures because that is where criminals hide and launch attacks on the people.

    “We also need more police divisions in the council because we only have two – one in Zuba and one in Gwagwalada town. We want more divisions in the boundary between Gwagwalada (FCT) and Niger state, precisely in Dobi. Also, we need one in Giri village where there is a constant influx of people”.

    The council chairman’s requests were also re-echoed by traditional rulers at the event.

    They further requested the minister to complete the General Hospital in Gwagwalada and dualize the ever-busy road leading to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

    They also urged residents to be vigilant and report any form of negative information to the police.

  • Wike: no project will be abandoned under Tinubu

    Wike: no project will be abandoned under Tinubu

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed to do everything possible to ensure that projects under President Bola Tinubu are not abandoned.

    Wike said this after an inspection tour of some projects in FCT.

    The minister said most of the projects would be completed and commissioned by President Tinubu.

    He said: “Since President Tinubu came on board, no work has stopped in all the sites. There are so many of these sites, but it will be difficult to take them all at the same time.

    “We believe that after May, and before December, some of the projects will be handed over to the members of the public.

    “The inspection is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects, particularly those we have promised the public that God willing, by May this year, the projects will have been completed.

    “What we did today was to go round to see for ourselves whether the contractors are meeting up with expectations”.

    The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of work so far, particularly at Guzape Lot II, which he said was going on very fast.

    He said that the contractor, Gilmor Construction Company: “is doing all it can to meet up the date line, and we believe they are going to accomplish it.

    He said: “Except for one set back where a lawmaker is stopping the contractor from further construction of one of the roads.

    “We are not going to take it likely. This is not a private project: it is a public project handled by the FCT Administration.

    Read Also: No project will be abandoned under Tinubu, says Wike

    “If there is any complaint, we think that whoever has a problem should complain to us and not go and use police to stop a legitimate company, carrying out construction work for the use of the public. These projects were approved by the Federal Executive Council.”

    The Minister directed the contractor to go ahead with the road construction, adding that the project was part of those to be commissioned by President Tinubu in May.

    Wike, who also inspected the B6 and B12 road, Independence Avenue, in the Central Area, being handled by Julius Berger, also expressed satisfaction with the progress of work.

    “The representative of the company said that in May, they will hand it over. We are very happy,” he said.

    Wike, however, complained that the security barriers erected by the Central Bank of Nigeria have constituted an obstruction to the ongoing road project in the area.

    The minister, who said the obstruction would not be accepted, said: “One thing with institutions is that, when they apply for land and we give them, they go beyond what was given to them to cause obstruction.

    “I have always said, anything for the public, we will not take for granted. So, we want the central bank to allow us to use what belongs to us for the interest of the public.

    “By and large, we are happy with what we have seen”.

    In a related development, the minister expressed dissatisfaction with some of the contractors handling some of the road resurfacing projects in parts of the city.

    Wike, in a meeting with some of the contractors, after the inspection tour in his Conference Room, said unofficial visits to some of the project sites revealed some inactivity in the sites.

    He asked the contractors to show him where they were working, adding that nobody collects mobilization and would not show seriousness.

    “I have also said before, and will continue to say it, we will not award contracts when we don’t have money. Any contract that is awarded since I came on board, know that there is cash backing.

      “I am not talking before; I am talking about since the inception of President Tinubu’s government. There is no need for awarding contracts when there is no cash.

    “So, having mobilized you, I was thinking by now, we would have seen a lot of equipment on sites.

    He asked the contractors to tell him the sections each of their companies were handling, “where they are working, and what stage they are at, and I am tired of memos.

    “No, I don’t want a memo again, what I want is seeing physical presence, I am tired of memo,” Wike repeated.

    The minister, who said he was not happy with the resurfacing contracts awarded in December 2023, asked the contractors to indicate if they are not ready to deliver as agreed.

  • No project will be abandoned under Tinubu, says Wike

    No project will be abandoned under Tinubu, says Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed to do everything possible to ensure that projects under President Bola Tinubu are not abandoned.

    Wike said this after an inspection tour of some projects in FCT.

    The minister said most of the projects would be completed and commissioned by President Tinubu.

    He said: “Since President Tinubu came on board, no work has stopped in all the sites. There are so many of these sites, but it will be difficult to take them all at the same time.

    “We believe that after May, and before December, some of the projects will be handed over to the members of the public.

    “The inspection is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects, particularly those we have promised the public that God willing, by May this year, the projects will have been completed.

    “What we did today was to go round to see for ourselves whether the contractors are meeting up with expectations.”

    The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of work so far, particularly at Guzape Lot II, which he said was going on very fast.

    He said that the contractor, Gilmore Construction Company: “is doing all it can to meet up the date line, and we believe they are going to accomplish it.

    Wike added: “Except for one setback where a lawmaker is stopping the contractor from further construction of one of the roads.

    “We are not going to take it likely. This is not a private project: it is a public project handled by the FCT Administration.

    “If there is any complaint, we think that whoever has a problem should complain to us and not go and use police to stop a legitimate company, carrying out construction work for the use of the public. These projects were approved by the Federal Executive Council.”

    The Minister directed the contractor to go ahead with the road construction, adding that the project was part of those to be commissioned by President Tinubu in May.

    Wike, who also inspected the B6 and B12 road, Independence Avenue, in the Central Area, being handled by Julius Berger, also expressed satisfaction with the progress of work.

    He said: “The representative of the company said that in May, they will hand it over. We are very happy.”

    Wike, however, complained that the security barriers erected by the Central Bank of Nigeria have constituted an obstruction to the ongoing road project in the area.

    The minister, who said the obstruction would not be accepted, said: “One thing with institutions is that, when they apply for land and we give them, they go beyond what was given to them to cause obstruction.

    “I have always said, anything for the public, we will not take for granted. So, we want the central bank to allow us to use what belongs to us for the interest of the public.

    “By and large, we are very very happy with what we have seen.”

    In a related development, the minister expressed dissatisfaction with some of the contractors handling some of the road resurfacing projects in parts of the city.

    Wike, in a meeting with some of the contractors, after the inspection tour in his Conference Room, said unofficial visits to some of the project sites revealed some inactivity in the sites.

    He asked the contractors to show him where they were working, adding that nobody collects mobilization and would not show seriousness.

    Read Also: Wike to Bwari residents: don’t raise money for kidnappers again

    “I have also said before, and will continue to say it, we will not award contracts when we don’t have money. Any contract that is awarded since I came on board, knows that there is cash barking.

    “I am not talking before; I am talking about since the inception of President Tinubu’s government. There is no need for awarding contracts when there is no cash.

    “So, having mobilized you, I was thinking by now, we would have seen a lot of equipment on sites.

    He asked the contractors to tell him the sections each of their companies were handling, “where they are working, and what stage they are at, and I am tired of memos.

    “No, I don’t want a memo again, what I want is to see physical presence, I am tired of memos.”

    The minister, who said he was not happy with the resurfacing contracts awarded in December 2023, asked the contractors to indicate if they were not ready to deliver as agreed.

  • Wike to Bwari residents: don’t raise money for kidnappers again

    Wike to Bwari residents: don’t raise money for kidnappers again

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has cautioned residents of Abuja against raising money for kidnappers.

    He gave the warning on Wednesday, January 17, while expressing condolences to the families affected by the kidnappings and killings in Bwari Area Council at a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, residents and stakeholders in Bwari Area Council.

    Wike emphasized that such fundraising only emboldens the bandits to demand larger sums. He further advised against resorting to radio stations to solicit funds.

    He said: “So, I condone with you, I sympathize with you.  For the deaths of some of our people, for the kidnap of some of our people. As I speak to you here, you never can tell. Some of their informants may be here. I do not care who you are, I don’t care who you are. I am the Minister of the FCT, those who know my track record know. You won’t sleep again. Informants, you will not sleep again. I do not intend to give you details of what the security agencies are going to do, that is left for us. It’s just to assure you that you are not alone.

    Read Also: Wike reads riot act to bandits in Abuja, says enough is enough

    “I don’t want to tell the Chairman to come and tell you, I said I want to see you face to face so that you will also know that we are also serious. Crying will not solve the problem, Wike will not solve the problem. What will solve the problem is your support to the security agencies.

    “From time to time, we will come and interact with you and know what your peculiar problems are. We will not just sit in the city.

    “So, I thank you very much. God will continue to bless; God will continue to protect. We are doing everything to see that those who have been kidnapped are released, but we want to appeal to you and let the public know this, yes, we know it is painful, but we cannot be encouraging kidnappers. We have to stop this idea of going to the radio to say we are ready to raise money.

    “When you do that, those criminals are happy. They are happy when the people that are concerned, you people want to raise money. No. I know it is painful that your wife, your children, and your husband have been kidnapped. All we want is to stop it, not to encourage it, journalists should also help us, we need the support of everybody. The kind of news you write also will encourage them.”

  • Wike reads riot act to bandits in Abuja, says enough is enough

    Wike reads riot act to bandits in Abuja, says enough is enough

    Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on Wednesday, January 17, 2023, visited area councils in the territory, saying that security agencies would make it difficult for bandits going forward.

    During his visit to the Bwari Area council offices in Bwari town, Wike convened a town hall meeting with locals, traditional leaders, security, defence, and intelligence professionals, as well as other relevant parties.

    The minister is expected to also visit other Councils in the coming days.

    At the gathering, Wike said that enough was enough and that informants for the bandits would not be allowed to continue sleeping among respectable citizens.

    He said: “Security is one of the key priorities of Mr. President’s administration. Yesterday (Tuesday), 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.

    “It is no longer going to be business as usual. My coming here today is to show you that we are serious. To all those bandits, enough is enough. We will do everything in our power to make sure that this does not happen again.

    “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”.

    Wike also asked for public support, particularly in terms of giving information to security organizations.

    “Without information, there is nothing we can do and that is where you come in. Traditional and community leaders, you have a great role to play. You need to assist security agencies with information.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Wike condemns constant travels by Abuja council chairmen

    “In the next few days, you will see action from the security agencies. There could be informants even here within this meeting hall. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care. I am the Minister of FCT. You won’t sleep again. Informants, you won’t sleep again.

    “This message is not just for Bwari but to all the Area Councils. From time to time, we will come here and interface with you. We won’t sit down in the city.”

    The minister cautioned people against using crowdsourcing to obtain money for ransom since it enables terrorists to carry out other atrocities.

    He said: “We have to stop this idea of going to radio to say we are going to raise money. When you do that, these bandits are happy that people are concerned and raising money. I know you are concerned that your loved ones are with kidnappers but we must do everything to discourage them.”

  • Tinubu directed me to visit Bwari over kidnapping, killings – Wike 

    Tinubu directed me to visit Bwari over kidnapping, killings – Wike 

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Wednesday, January 17, said he visited Bwari Area Council following instruction of President Bola Tinubu.

    Wike said this during a townhall meeting with residents of Bwari Area Council over the incessant kidnapping and killing in the area.

    He disclosed that Tinubu has also ordered him to provide vehicles and other security gadgets to all security operatives in the FCT to combat the bandits.

    Wike vowed to make Abuja hot for the bandits.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Wike condemns constant travels by Abuja council chairmen

    He revealed that government is doing everything possible to rescue those abducted by the bandits. 

    Former Senator representing FCT, Philip Aduda, Bwari Council of Chiefs, security agencies, officials of the area council are also part of the meeting. 

    Public outcry ensued after the deaths of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, kidnapped with 22 others in Bwari, FCT, and 13-year-old Folasade Ariyo, abducted with her family in Sagwari Estate Layout, Dutse-Alhaji, Abuja. 

    Following Folashade’s killing, the kidnappers increased their ransom demand from N60m to N700m, prompting her father, Mr. Oladosu Ariyo, to seek assistance from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Details shortly…