Crime

Senate Summons FCT Minister and Police Commissioner Over Kidnapping Crisis in Abuja

Published

2 months ago

February 29, 2024

Stella Charles Akupue

Senate Summons FCT Minister and Police Commissioner Over Kidnapping Crisis in Abuja

In recent years, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, has witnessed a concerning surge in insecurity, particularly in the form of kidnappings. The alarming rise in such incidents has prompted widespread fear and urgent action from government authorities and concerned citizens.

This escalation reached a critical point following the tragic kidnapping and subsequent killing of Chris Agidy, a Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Ned Nwoko, along with 19 others, in the Galadimawa area of Abuja in November 2023.

In response to mounting public outcry and addressing pressing security concerns, the Senate has taken decisive steps to summon critical stakeholders, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe.

This move reflects a concerted effort to delve into the root causes of the insecurity crisis and devise robust strategies to mitigate further incidents, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors in Nigeria’s capital city.

The Senate has taken decisive action to address the concerning surge in kidnapping cases within Abuja, summoning the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, on Wednesday.

This move comes in response to the tragic killing of Chris Agidy, a Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Ned Nwoko, who was abducted and murdered in November 2023 alongside 19 others in the Galadimawa area.

Senator Nwoko’s motion highlighting this incident sparked extensive deliberations among senators, leading to a resolution for a comprehensive briefing from the FCT Minister and the police commissioner on strategies to tackle the escalating kidnapping crisis in the nation’s capital.

In addition to the summons, the Senate has issued directives to strengthen security in Abuja and nationwide. Notably, they have called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intensify security patrols and surveillance efforts. The installation of CCTV cameras along highways in Abuja has also been advocated to aid in monitoring and deterring criminal activities.

Furthermore, the Senate has tasked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) with ensuring the operational readiness of dedicated emergency numbers. These numbers facilitate swift communication with law enforcement, ambulance services, and fire departments, enhancing emergency response efficiency.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that the FCT Minister and the Commissioner of Police will engage in a closed-door session with the Senate. The specifics of this meeting, including the date, will be communicated to Wike and Igwe through an official letter of summons from the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze.

Akpabio emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Incidences like the kidnapping and killing of the SLA of Senator Nwoko and some residents of FC are worrisome and must be stopped not only in the FCT but also in Nigeria generally.

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