Three months after Wike’s JTF, fear heightens in FCT as criminals run riot

Ninety days ago, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, security council, chaired by the Minister, Nyesom Wike, announced the establishment of a Joint Task Force to tackle insecurity in the Capital Territory.

The joint task force, which comprises all security agencies, is to tackle issues of armed robbery, kidnapping and all forms of crimes in the FCT.

Wike had this to say after setting up the JTF: “we set up a task force on those states that we have borders with.

“Joint security task force, including the SSS, the police, the army, the navy, and they have identified the way they will operate.

“To tell you that we are concerned, that is why we have to set up this joint task force for one-chance and border control.

“Again, you see a lot of illegal motor parks. When we come up with a policy that we can’t allow these illegal motor parks, people will come up to say the economy is hard, things are tough but nobody wants to look at it from the security implications.

“We are also planning to shut down some of these illegal motor parks.”

Months after the announcement by the Minister, many residents who spoke with DAILY POST said the activities of criminals have not abated.

Some days ago, kidnappers recently abducted a family of six in Abuja demanding over N60 million before their release.

According to media reports, one of the abducted siblings, Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, was murdered by the kidnappers to force the family to pay the ransom.

The killing of Nabeeha has drawn country-wide condemnation, with the #Najeebahandhersisters trending on X.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar also recently jumped on the trend.

In a post, Atiku said the incident showed that bandits were operating freely in the country.

“I am saddened by reports of the brutal murder of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, who was abducted with her siblings and has been in the custody of their abductors for almost two weeks.

“This is yet another reminder that kidnappers and bandits are operating unhindered in our country. The security architecture needs to be rejigged to the extent that it stems from the free rein of criminal elements and guarantees the safety of lives and property.

“The security agencies should step up action to rescue the rest who are still in the custody of the kidnappers,” the post read.

While the case of Nabeeha has become popular, however, this sort of crime has become a norm and everyday thing in the city centre and satellite towns, raising concern among residents.

On Monday, (yesterday), it was reported that kidnappers who abducted ten persons from Sagwari Layout Estate Dutse, Abuja, killed three of their victims.

The daredevil gunmen had on January 7 invaded the estate with highly sophisticated weapons and abducted at least ten persons.

Reports emerged on Monday that the terrorists have killed three of the ten victims to send a strong warning to their relatives negotiating ransom payment.

They reportedly increased their demand from the initial N60 million per person to N100 million, now totalling N700 million.

While expressing worry over the developments, Uthman Samad, an Abuja-based journalist posted on his timeline: “Dear @GovWike, At this point, you need to leave Rivers politics and wake up to the cries of the residents.

“It has never been this worse in FCT. The rate of kidnappings in communities around law school is not funny again.”

“In the past, you hear about kidnapping in other places like Niger, Kaduna-Abuja Expressway— but now, kidnapping is everywhere. You are not even safe in your own house,

Mr Kenna further stated that residents now have to pay vigilantes in their neighbourhood for protection due to the failure of the federal government to protect them.

“At this point, you don’t even need anyone to beg you to pay security levy,” he stated.

The apprehension is heightened in some of the satellite towns that are close to other neighbouring states, particularly those close to Niger State.

Chimeze Ofor, who built a house in Bwari, said he is reconsidering his decision and may consider moving his family out.

“The fear of demolition and the exorbitant rent in town (Abuja metropolis) were the two reasons that made me build my house in Bwari but with all these kidnappings, I think I made the wrong decision,” he told DAILY POST.

The high rate of crime has affected the once bustling nightlife of Abuja as many residents now live in fear of being victims of one-chance or kidnapping.

“I try to be in my house by 8 pm because my family does not have millions to pay as ransom,” Seun Ogunmola, a trader in the AMAC market in Lugbe told our correspondent.

Meanwhile, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Pantami recently announced that N50 million has been raised for the release of the Al-Kadriyar.

“I spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60m immediately. I conveyed the account number of the father of our daughters, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, to the friend and brother to send the money directly.

“Any additional amount earlier generated from yesterday, the father can use to treat the daughters and other family members in sha Allah,” Pantami posted on his verified X handle.

At the moment, residents are anxious to see how the FCT minister will address the worrisome security issues.