Kidnapping in FCT: Wike vows to demolish abandoned buildings

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed to demolish abandoned and uncompleted buildings serving as safe haven for criminals, particularly kidnappers in the nation’s capital.

Wike also disclosed that some informants working for kidnappers had been arrested.

He spoke during a security town hall meeting with relevant stakeholders on Friday, January 19, in Gwagwalada, to find lasting solutions to security challenges affecting the federal capital.

The minister has asked council chairmen to write him unfailingly on Monday, indicating the number and locations of all uncompleted buildings constituting security threats in the areas.

He assured the residents that he would approve the demolition of the uncompleted buildings or alternatively transfer ownership of the buildings to the communities to complete and put them to good use.

Wike, who acknowledged the challenges, assured residents of the area of President Bola Tinubu’ resolve to address the security challenges in the FCT.

The minister also said that he had secured President Tinubu’s approval to procure and distribute operational vehicles and communications gadgets to the police and other security agencies in the FCT.

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Wike 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 being 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.

Meanwhile, Wike has asked the Police Commissioner, FCT Command, to establish two additional Police Divisions in Gwagwalada Area Council of the territory.

The order was in response to the request by the Council’s Chairman, Mr Abubakar Giri, who pleaded for the additional divisions to improve security, particularly in border communities.

Giri said that the area council currently has only two police divisions, one each in Zuba and Gwagwalada.

He also complained of abandoned buildings that have constituted security threats in the area, as most of the buildings have become safe haven for criminals.

The Star