FCT residents task government on proactive, speedy measures on insecurity

Some residents of Bwari Area Council of the FCT have tasked government at all levels, including security operatives, to be proactive and speedy in dealing with criminality in the territory.

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The residents, who spoke in separate interviews on Friday in Abuja, said that practical measures were needed to end the menace.

There had been a spike in the abduction and killing of residents by bandits, especially in Bwari Area Council.

Mr Ahmed Aliyu, a public servant and resident of Bwari, said that all hands must be on deck to tackle the challenge as no one was safe anymore.

“All in charge, the leaders, stakeholders, including the heads of security operatives must join hands and end this menace, not just in the FCT but also neighbouring states.

“We cannot continue to wait for terror to happen before we begin to meet and strategise on how to address the challenge while lives are being wasted daily.

“We are tax payers and expect the government to protect us as they have sworn oaths, individually, to do. People are scared; no one is sleeping for fear of kidnappers.

“We also expect that the security agents should have gotten information aforehand on these attacks, not always coming after the attacks have been carried out and people killed.

“This is getting too much,” Aliyu said.

He added that the fear of kidnappers in especially the remote communities of the area had left residents taking refuge in the township where he also added, had seemed insecured.

Another resident, Mr John Maxwell, a business man in the area also said that it was only logical for the masses to expect so much from their leaders as the leaders expect much from their followers.

He said that no one should wait to be told what to do when it came to their jobs.

Maxwell, however, advised that tactical teams must be directed around the locations recently attacked by kidnappers and beyond, with a view to clamping on the criminals infiltrating the FCT.

“People should not die before those in charge take up to their responsibilities.

“Kidnappings have been going on in some of these areas since last year and not much has been done yet and it keeps reoccurring.

“They expect us to believe they have no security alert on these criminalities or is it hard to nip this issue in the bud.

“Please, we are begging now; enough is enough; those responsible for our safety should brace up to their jobs; they cannot continue to move at their pace at the detriment of the people,” he said.

Similarly, Mrs Agnes Nnoli, another resident, advised that people must continue to remain prayerful and vigilant at all times, while also taking note of strangers or alien activities around them.

She explained that in as much as human efforts were needed to secure people from incessant security challenges, it was the duty of individuals to pray for divine intervention.

Nnoli also prayed to God to touch the heart of leaders to do the right thing for the benefit of the people and not for their selfish interests, while also praying for the total collapse of criminal syndicates in the country.

The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, said that the FCT Administration was taking steps to address the security challenges affecting some sections of the territory.

The minister, who acknowledged the challenges, urged residents not to panic, as government had taken measures to address the ugly situation.