The House of Representatives Tuesday summoned the Minister Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike over the resurgence of “one-chance” criminals and the spate of kidnappings and other security challenges in the nation’s capital.
It also summoned the Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Adeola Ajayi, to appear before the House Committees on FCT, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent motion on national public importance moved by Hon. Dabo Haruna at the plenary on Tuesday.
Presenting the motion, the lawmaker said in recent years, the nation’s capital, Abuja has experienced an uprising in the rate of kidnappings and robbery incidents including “one-chance”, and rom those kidnapped from far flung suburbs to those kidnapped along the Airport Road; from those picked from their Estates to those kidnapped at the City centre, to those abducted by renegade one-chance taxi operators,
Haruna stressed that it has been a tumultuous and scary situation for people living within the federal capital territory as the use of unregistered and unpainted taxis has further worsened the situation, providing an easy conduit for criminal activities within the capital city.
He expressed concern that the residents of the FCT are living 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.
Haruna noted: “Further aware that one Miss Nimah Sulaiman, a Legislative Aide of Hon Dabo, was kidnapped and brutally murdered on Thursday 17th October, 2024 on her way home to Jahi District, around 6:15 pm, where she was taken at gunpoint at Bannex Junction in Wuse 2 by one-chance operators.
“Recalls that despite paying ransom in full, her life was tragically cut short. Her body was found between the hours of 9 to 10 pm at Maitama/Minister’s hill Bridge
“Disturbed that 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.”
The House, therefore, mandated its Committee on FCT to investigate the widespread use of unregistered and unpainted taxis in Abuja and recommend measures to regulate their operations.