Some kidnap cases in FCT staged-managed – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that most cases of kidnap in the FCT in recent times were stage-managed.

He also declared that there has been a remarkable improvement in the security situation of the territory.

Wike said this on Wednesday at the National Assembly while addressing journalists after about two hours of closed-door session with the Senate on the state of security in FCT and measures being put in place.

The Senate had met with the FCT Minister and the Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, behind closed doors.

After the closed-door session, Wike said there has been a reduction in crime and criminalities in the FCT, adding that two of the most wanted kidnappers in the FCT have also been arrested.

He, however, said that though the FCT has not reached where it wants to be in terms of security, there has been marked improvement in the security situation, as attested to by the lawmakers.

He further noted that it was impossible to put a total stop to crime and criminalities within any society, but assured all that the FCT administration, working with the security agencies, will continue to do its best to secure lives and property in the nation’s capital.

Wike said, “Even the Senators agreed that security has quite improved in the FCT. There is no part of this world where criminality has been eradicated completely.

“What we are trying to say is being able to limit or reduce the level of insecurity. But if anybody tells you that as a society is concerned, you will not have one form of criminality, that is not correct and we must have to tell ourselves the truth.”

He added that the kidnapping incidents in the FCT were sometimes stage-managed by unscrupulous elements in the society while assuring all that the security agencies would continue to ensure that kidnapped victims were released.

The FCT minister stated, “The kidnappings you hear, sometimes, are stage-managed by people. There are some internal arrangements.

“Take for example, you have a housekeeper in the house, you have a driver who will plot to kidnap the child of their master.

“In that case, what do you want us to do? All we can do is to see how the person that has been kidnapped is released.”

He explained further, “But to stop crime of that nature will be difficult because it’s an in-house arrangement, where a driver that is involved in bringing a child from school will mastermind kidnapping of the child .”

Also the FCT Commissioner of Police, Igwe assured residents of their safety within the FCT and its immediate environs, adding that his command has come up with new strategies and tactics to deal decisively with criminals especially “armed robbers” popularly known as “One Chance “ terrorising the city.

Also at the meeting were the FCT Director of the DSS, ADG Ado Muazu, and the Commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu.