The current situation in the nation’s capital has prompted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to lead a security meeting with heads of security agencies. This meeting addresses the concerning rise in kidnappings and killings in the FCT.
The participants include heads of security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory, senior representatives from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), council chairmen, and traditional leaders. Despite the alarming circumstances, Wike has reassured Abuja residents not to panic.
During the meeting, the minister conveyed confidence that normalcy would soon be restored in the nation’s capital, providing assurance to FCT residents.
It is noteworthy that recent reports by Vanguard highlighted an increase in terrorist, bandit, and criminal activities across six states and the FCT. The attacks, spanning five of the country’s geopolitical zones, resulted in six fatalities, 60 kidnappings, theft of a corpse, and the looting of goods worth millions of naira. The South-South was the only zone unaffected by these incidents.
As of the time of this press release, neither the Force Headquarters nor the Defense Headquarters (DHQ) has responded to inquiries about their strategies to address the growing insecurity in the country.
In a specific incident in Abuja, kidnappers who abducted 10 individuals in Sagwari Layout, Dutse, on January 7, reportedly killed three of their victims as a warning to relatives negotiating ransom payments. The ransom demand, initially set at N60 million per person, has been increased to N100 million, totaling N700 million. Among the victims was a 13-year-old high school student named Folorunsho Ariyo.
Residents of Sagwari Layout, feeling compelled to act due to perceived government and security agency inaction, are planning a substantial protest to demand action and the rescue of their community members. Originally scheduled for yesterday, the protest was postponed to today due to the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.
