The House of representatives has resolved to summon the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Peter Opara, and other key security stakeholders to address the deteriorating security situation in Abuja.
This resolution was reached following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Haruna Dabo, the representative of the Toro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, during the plenary session on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
The motion, driven by the tragic resurgence of “one chance” robberies in the capital city, highlighted the recent death of Dabo’s legislative aide, Nimah Sulaiman, as a critical event that underscored the gravity of the situation.
Recall that Sulaiman was abducted on Thursday, October 17, 2024, by unidentified gunmen in Abuja. Despite a ransom of N1 million being paid to her captors, she was brutally stabbed and later succumbed to her injuries.
Her uunfortunate demise has drawn widespread attention to the escalating insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory.
While presenting his motion, Dabo expressed deep concern over the increasing frequency of kidnappings and robberies across both suburban and central areas of the FCT. He emphasized that residents now live in constant fear, as even previously secure areas of the capital have become vulnerable to crime.
In particular, he drew attention to the operations of “one chance” taxi operators who prey on unsuspecting passengers using unregistered and unpainted vehicles.
“It has become a tumultuous and scary situation for people living in the capital territory,” Dabo stated. “The proliferation of unregistered and unpainted taxis has worsened the security landscape, providing criminals with an easy cover for their activities.”
Dabo further recounted the tragic incident involving his aide, explaining that Sulaiman was abducted by “one chance” operators at Bannex Junction, Wuse II, while on her way home to the Jahi District. Despite paying the ransom, her body was found hours later at the Maitama/Minister’s Hill Bridge, highlighting the ruthless nature of the criminals involved.
In response to the presentation, the House observed a minute of silence in honor of the deceased. It then directed its Committees on FCT, Police, and National Security and Intelligence to summon the relevant authorities, including the FCT Minister, the Commissioner of Police, and the Director General of the DSS, to provide a comprehensive briefing on the security challenges in the capital.
Additionally, the House mandated its Committee on FCT to investigate the widespread use of unregistered and unpainted taxis in Abuja and to propose measures to regulate their operation.
The Committees on FCT, Police, and National Security were also tasked with conducting an extensive investigation into the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers in the capital, with a detailed report expected within three weeks.
