Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has summoned an emergency security meeting following the worsening security situation in the nation’s capital.
Bandits have been breaking into houses and picking up residents from the comfort of their homes.
The incidents which have created tension reached its height when some residents, including a 13-year-old Secondary School Student, were killed over failure to meet deadline of ransom payment.
Speaking at the meeting, which is ongoing, Wike assured FCT residents that their safety is guaranteed.
He said the government was working to support security agents with all what they need to tackle insecurity.
Among those in attendance are heads of security agencies in the FCT, top officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), council chairmen as well as traditional rulers.
Wike warned the area council chairmen to be alive to their responsibility at the local levels.
He stressed the need for the security apparatus to re-stratigise and redouble their efforts to tame insecurity in the territory.
“All of us are aware of the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Bwari and some other areas that witnessed challenges. I am aware that sometimes, the press overblows what is happening, but all of us are concerned about the Federal Capital Territory, virtually every Nigerian will has the duty to make sure that place is safe, we do all we can and we assure Nigerians who reside here that there is no need to panic.“
We are taking every step to make sure that those challenges are resolved; so this meeting is practically to look into such challenges and see how we be able to resolve them. That is why we invited all the council chairmen because they also have responsibility in their various area councils, so we have to put hands together to come up with solutions.
“So for the Press, is just for you to know that we are not sleeping, security agencies are also not sleeping, we provided every support that they require in order to alleviate the fear of the citizens. And 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 any time and then if anything happens, of course, they will not call anybody’s name, they will call the FCT minister.“
Recently NUT embarked on strike, it is not our fault, it’s area councils, primary schools are under the area councils, but again it will look as if the minister is not doing enough.
“However, we can’t fold our hands, we have invited them to the meeting this afternoon to see how we can also resolve the problem, so council chairmen should know that you live up to responsibility, is not everything that happens they would say it is the ministers that are not taking steps.“So for your information, just know that we doing everything we can to resolve the security challenges we are currently facing, thank you very much.”
