Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has vowed to discourage the granting of bail to kidnappers.
In response, he instructed the Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the territory to initiate monthly security meetings to enhance the security conditions in their respective jurisdictions or face potential sanctions.
The minister issued this directive on Friday during a security town hall meeting held at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). Wike urged stakeholders to inform him if any of the chairmen fails to conduct the mandated monthly security meeting.
He emphasized that any council chairman neglecting to convene these monthly security council meetings poses a threat to the overall security of the council.
The minister said; “Gone were the days when kidnappers would be granted bail. I will not allow it again. We will ensure that the kidnapper is punished. How will a kidnapper be granted bail?
“Therefore, I will be calling meetings of all traditional leaders, meeting with all council chairmen and meeting with all security agencies. “If there is no monthly meeting held in terms of security in the councils, I should be aware, and I will hold that chairman responsible for any security breach.
“If you do your job, I do my job, traditional leaders do their own jobs, and security agencies do their own job, we won’t have problems. But if you don’t do your own part, I don’t do my own part, he does not do his own part, then we are bound to have security problems.”
Wike assured residents that the government would provide everything that security agencies require to help them to perform their duties. “They don’t have the needed logistics and communication gadgets, yet we want them to perform wonders, we want them to perform miracles.
“If they don’t have information, they will not perform miracles; if they don’t have information no wonders would be performed.
“Our is not to carry guns; ours is to provide information through the Area Councils, through our traditional rulers; and through my office, then to security agencies. When we give them information, they will take proactive actions,” he said.
Additionally, he committed to building a police station and several access roads, as per the request made by the council chairman, Christopher Maikalangu.
Beforehand, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, the Chief of Karshi, representing traditional leaders at the meeting, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between security leaders and community structures.
Mohammed cautioned politicians against making provocative statements concerning the security situation in the FCT.
“Please do not politicize the security situation in the FCT. Leave the security challenge out of your politics.
“God forbid, if there is problem here, all of you will run back to your states. We don’t have anywhere to go, so please, don’t create problems for us here,” he pleaded.
The chief had also urged the minister to enforce the obligation for council chairmen to convene the required monthly peace and security meetings.
He clarified that these meetings were intended to be held monthly, bringing together Divisional Police Officers, Area Commanders, and Heads of the Department of State Services to exchange crucial security information.