The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, said arrests have been conducted of individuals linked to providing bandits with information in the region.
The minister revealed this information during a town hall meeting held with the Gwagwalada area council chairman, traditional rulers, security operatives, and residents of Gwagwalada in Abuja.
While he didn’t specify the number of individuals apprehended or the location of the arrests, he reassured Gwagwalada residents not to be alarmed, promising an enhancement in the security situation in the FCT in the upcoming days.
In response to the concern raised by residents regarding the limited presence of security operatives in the area, the minister instructed the commissioner of police to promptly establish two additional police divisions in the Gwagwalada area council.
This marks Minister Wike’s second visit in a series of visits to area councils, aiming to engage with residents and propose solutions to address insecurity in the nation’s capital. The surge in kidnapping for ransom has become a growing concern in the FCT, prompting residents to express serious worries about their safety.
On January 5, six siblings, along with their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriya, were abducted from their residence in Zuma 1, located on the outskirts of Bwari town in Abuja. During the incident, two policemen were shot.
The abductors released the father with instructions to raise a N60 million ransom to secure the release of his daughters.
Tragically, one of the siblings, Nabeeha, a 400-level Biological Science student at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, was killed by the bandits on Friday. Meanwhile, her five sisters, including Najeebah, a 500-level Quantity Surveying student, and Nadherah, a 300-level Zoology student, remain in captivity.
Banditry has been rampant and unchecked in the North-Western and North-Central states of the country, with Kaduna bearing the brunt of the attacks. Other affected states include Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Katsina.
These recent incidents prompted President Bola Tinubu to convene an emergency security meeting on Monday.