Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, should not be alarmed, said Nyesom Wike, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, who also stated that he and other Security Agencies were aware of the territory’s security concerns and were not sleeping.

This is even as the Minister called a hastily scheduled, private meeting on Tuesday, 16 January 2024, with the leaders of the FCT’s Security Services and the chairs of the six Area Councils.

Remember the public’s outcry that followed the news of the kidnapping deaths of 13-year-old Folasade Ariyo and eleven others, including their mother and three siblings, at the Sagwari Estate Layout in Dutse-Alhaji Area of Abuja, and of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar and 22 others in the Bwari Area of the FCT.

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Late Folashade Ariyo’s father, Mr. Oladosu Ariyo, contacted The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seeking assistance after the kidnappers killed Folashade Ariyo and two other victims and demanded N700 million in ransom for other captives in place of the N60 million initially demanded.

Speaking to the media before the private gathering, Wike stated that Heads of State would work with Area Council Chairmen to provide answers to the nation’s security problems, emphasizing that they had a responsibility to ensure Abuja was secure.

“All of us are aware of the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Bwari and some other areas that have witnessed security challenges.”

“Our concern is that for the Federal Capital Territory that has virtually every Nigerian, we owe a duty to make sure that this place is safe, to do all we can, and we assure Nigerians who reside here, that there is no need for panic”, the Minister said.

Wike also said that they are taking every step to make sure that those challenges are things that they must have to resolve. “So, this meeting is practically to look into such challenges and see how we can resolve the problems. And that is why we invited all the council chairmen because they also have a responsibility in their various area councils.”

He stated that they would put our heads together and come up with solutions. However, for the press, he continues, “It is just for you to know that we are not sleeping, security agencies are also not sleeping. We will provide every support that they require to allay the fears of the citizens”

Wike added that he would not be pleased to learn that Area Council Chairmen were vacating their positions and taking trips, particularly when there were security issues in their respective councils.

“This time around, we will not be happy when Area Council Chairmen will abdicate their responsibility and travel out. We have gotten reports that council chairmen travel anytime, and then if anything happens, of course, they will not call anybody’s name, they will call the FCT Minister. However, we cannot fold our hands, we have invited them to a meeting this afternoon to see how we can also resolve the problem,” the Minister concluded.