Wike to distribute 50 vehicles to security agents, declares war on criminal scavengers
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has restated his commitment to safeguard the lives of the Abuja residents and ensure the promotion of growth and development of the territory.
To this end, the minister disclosed that the administration is set to release 50 vehicles to security agents in the FCT with the view to tackling security challenges, check scavengers who have constituted threats to the residents.
Making this commitment, Wednesday while charting with newsmen in his office, Wike said the security agents are working day and night to keep Abuja residents secure, adding that the situation at the moment is far better than what it was earlier months ago.
The minister noted that some of the beggars in the city not only constitute a nuisance but a security threat as some are informants to agents of darkness.
He said: “I disagree with you that poverty is responsible, professional begging is what is happening. We have security threats and you give excuses for them.
“Some of them are not only informants, but scavengers too. The committee is now working day and night. Next week I will distribute 50 vehicles to security agencies to provide comfort for Abuja residents. We are giving them necessary support to enable them to succeed.
“We’re here to fight insecurity to give Abuja residents the comfort they deserve. If Abuja is not safe, then forget Nigeria.”
On the building of homes for judges, Wike said it was not intended to influence them, but to facilitate the independence of the judiciary.
He said even the homes of the leadership of the National Assembly members are built and maintained by the FCDA and that does not influence them; so that of judges is in the same vein.
Wike also urge Nigerians to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration for changing the narrative, in terms of development.
“People should commend Tinubu and the administration. What was the condition of the city and the rural areas before now? I thank God that Tinubu gave me the opportunity to contribute. Any day I go to the rural areas, I feel very happy. Yesterday I was in Saburi community; look at the happiness among the people.
“On the Dei Dei to Life Camp road I promised the people that as the Saburi road is delivered in December this year, the Dei Dei – Life Camp would soon pass through the BPP process. Just this morning, BPP sent me an approval which I have forwarded to FEC for approval. In Bwari Ushafa, Military College community, see the joy of the people when we flagged off their road project.”
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Again, gunmen kill 2 soldiers in South-east
Gunmen have killed two Nigerian soldiers in Abia state, South-east Nigeria.
According to a statement from the Army authorities, the soldiers were shot dead by the gunmen who attacked a checkpoint on Wednesday, 13 November, on the Umuahia-Owerri Road in Ekeneobizi community in Umuahia South local government of Abia.
The slain soldiers were part of a joint task force, codenamed Operation UDO KA, which is battling to contend with deadly Biafra agitation in the country’s South-east.
Jonah Unukhalu, a lieutenant colonel who issued the statement on Wednesday in Umuahia on behalf of the task force, said the attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.
“The attack was carried out by the irredentist group of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN),” Unukhalu said in the statement.
“During the attack, the gallant troops were able to repel the attack forcing the irredentist to withdraw in disarray with gunshot wounds, abandoning one Sienna and one Lexus Jeep vehicles that were used for the attack.
“However, in the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price,” he said. (NAN)
