*Photo: Wike*
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has warned that there would no longer be bail for arrested kidnap suspects and their informants in the Federal Capital Territory.
“If you don’t repent now, whatever you see, you take. Those days are gone where when they arrest you, they give you bail. My own period, when they catch a criminal, if you like go and bring anybody, you can’t be a kidnapper and you talk about bail. It is not going to be allowed. The law must take it’s course. We will do everything to see that you are fully prosecuted”, he said, just as he warned against politicizing the security situation in the nation’s capital.
The Minister gave the warnings in Abuja on Friday, during the 4th Security Townhall Meeting held in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, (AMAC) to reassure the residents of the commitment of the government to address the security challenges in the FCT.
The Sarkin Karshi, HRH, Ismaila Mohammed Danladi had expressed concern at the meeting that some politicians were giving ethnic and religious colouration to the security situation in the FCT.
Barrister Wike, in his response, said insecurity does not recognize religion or the area where one comes from and called on FCT residents to work together to support the security agencies by providing credible information that will lead to arrests and prosecution.
According to the Minister, “We must not politicize the issue of security. Its unfortunate that instead of people to rub minds together on how they will contribute and what they can tell the government on how we can solve the problems, all we do is to go to social media, fabricate lies, blackmail people and begin to mislead our people.”
“Insecurity does not know who is a Christian. Insecurity does not know who is a Muslim. Insecurity does not know where you come from. It can be me today, it can be you tomorrow. It can be another person tomorrow. So, it has nothing to do with you are from here, you are not from here”.
Barr. Wike also assured that the government was committed to providing all what the security agencies require to help them perform their duties.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that the security agencies should be provided with vehicles, communication gadgets, motorbikes, among other facilities in the next one week.
The Minister added that the Area Council Chairmen have also been directed to set up vigilante outfits and get the security agencies to profile all candidates, to ensure that they are credible people. He also stressed the importance of making sure that the allowances of the vigilante members.
“You must make sure that their entitlements are paid so that they will be committed in giving out information to the security agencies”.
The Minister who also reacted to reports that some Area Council Chairmen were not holding regular security meetings , said such Council Chairmen constitute a security threat to their Area Councils and would be held responsible.
Speaking on the NUT and NULGE strike in which the FCT Administration intervened, the Minister explained that the intervention became necessary to ensure that the striking workers do not constitute a security threat to the Councils and the FCT.
On the request by the, AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu for the provision of a police division and construction of roads in the remote parts of the Area Council where kidnapping is rife, the Minister assured that the police division would be provided on an emergency basis
The Minister said, “Now that the Chairman has requested a police division, let it not be that we did not listen to him. Let’s build a police division there so that they can have the confidence and hope that insecurity will reduce”.
“So, these roads which your Chairman has requested we will do it for you because I believe in what he has said that the construction of these roads will reduce insecurity”.
The FCT Minister also gave a nod to the request by the Abaji Area Council Chairman, Hon Abubakar Abdullahi, that a military checkpoint should be established in Yaba, as well as a police division in the Area Council, assuring that the FCTA is ready to provide the logistics.
He also promised to complete three abandoned road projects in the Abaji Area Council that were awarded by the FCT Administration and urged the Chairman to furnish him with the details so that work could commence immediately.
“I have to summon the Director of STDD and make sure that you get the contractors. If the contractors are not around, I will award it to new contractors.
The Minister further assured that the FCT Administration will provide a pedestrian bridge in Abaji town to save the lives of the people , adding that the FCTA will also pay compensation to allow work to commence on the interchange project awarded by the Federal Minister of Works in Abaji.
Barr. Wike also promised to ensure the completion of the Abaji University of Technology as well put in place the necessary facilities.
Speaking further on the efforts to address security challenges in the city centre, the Minister explained that the recent demolition of shanties in Abuja was done to rid the city of criminality and not targeted at anybody.
Barr. Wike however warned criminals and their informants in the FCT to repent or be prepared to face what is coming to them. He said, “If you don’t repent now, whatever you see, you take. Those days are gone where when they arrest you, they give you bail. My own period, when they catch a criminal, if you like go and bring anybody, you can’t be a kidnapper and you talk about bail. It is not going to be allowed. The law must take it’s course. We will do everything to see that you are fully prosecuted”.
