Reps summon Wike, DSS DG, FCT CP over kidnappings in Abuja

The house of representatives has summoned Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over the security situation in Abuja.

The green chamber also summoned Olatunji Disu, FCT commissioner of police; and Adeola Ajayi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The public officials are to appear before the house committees on FCT, police affairs, and national security and intelligence.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during plenary on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Ismail Dabo from Bauchi state.

Moving the motion, Dabo, who lost his aide, Nimah Sulaiman, to ‘one chance’ operators on October 17, lamented the uptick in abductions by gunmen both in the suburbs and the city centre.

The lawmaker said Sulaiman was “kidnapped and brutally murdered at gunpoint” around Bannex junction in Wuse 2, by ‘one chance’ operators.

He said “despite paying ransom in full, her life was tragically cut short”.

“This heinous crime has sent shockwaves through our community, confirming the escalating insecurity in the FCT. It is our collective responsibility as lawmakers to ensure the safety and security of our citizens,” he said.

The legislator said it has been a “tumultuous and scary situation” for residents of the FCT, adding that the use of unregistered and unpainted taxis has further worsened the situation, “providing an easy conduit for criminal activities” in the city.

He said FCT residents now live in fear as the security of the nation’s seat of power has “continued to deteriorate as brutal criminals go about with their daily operations without mercy on citizens”.

The motion was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.