•Govt reviewing US, others’ supply to assist
•Wike assures of higher safety in FCT
Deji Elumoye and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has, once more, directed that on no situation ought to ransom be paid by authorities to kidnappers, bandits or different legal components for the discharge of their victims, as he learn the nation’s safety companies the riot act following incessant kidnap incidents.
Minister of Data and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed the directive yesterday in Abuja whereas briefing newsmen on the finish of the Federal Government Council (FEC) assembly, chaired by Tinubu on the State Home.
The federal authorities additionally stated it was nonetheless reviewing affords from the USA and different nations to assist in rescue missions, saying it could disclose its choice quickly.
The feedback got here as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, assured residents of improved safety, together with discount in instances of kidnapping, within the nation’s capital.
On the identical time, Commissioner, FCT Police Command, Benedict Igweh, disclosed that the correctional officer, Usman Ishaya Magaji, who shot and killed a convicted offender, Ibrahim Yahaya, at Wuse market on Tuesday, had been arrested for interrogation.
The federal government’s choice to place a damper on kidnapping for ransom adopted latest incidents, notably in Kaduna State, the place some kids had been kidnapped and held in captivity whereas their abductors demanded billions of naira for his or her launch.
Idris briefed newsmen on the most recent developments on the finish of the FEC assembly yesterday.
He acknowledged, “In council at present, Mr. President reiterated his directive to the safety companies and the Ministry of Defence to make sure that these our youngsters which were kidnapped by these legal gangs are introduced again to their houses safely.
“Mr President has additionally reiterated his zero tolerance for fee of ransom. That was additionally talked about by Mr. President on the council at present. So, the safety companies are working around the clock.
“So, these kids and other people which were kidnapped by legal components will probably be introduced again to security fairly quickly. The safety companies are working laborious in that path.
“And Mr. President has additionally directed that no ransom will probably be paid by authorities to any of those legal components. It will be important that it will likely be put on the market.”
On the rising wave of kidnapping within the nation, Idris stated, “You’re additionally asking concerning the obvious surge on this kidnapping throughout the nation. Now, it’s true that a few of these are occurring, we’ve seen what has occurred in Kaduna, in Borno after which in Sokoto.
“In fact, authorities is watching that very carefully and never simply watching, additionally making certain that safety companies are taking proactive steps to make sure that that is halted considerably.
“Now, like I stated, Mr. President has stated it’s an unacceptable state of affairs and the federal government is not going to condone abductions or kidnappings or any sort of criminality in that path.
“We’re seeing this occurring and authorities is taking very proactive steps, first, to mitigate that, and likewise to cease the unfold of this apparently.
“We’re seeing that the extra the safety companies are additionally hitting these targets or criminals, the extra they’re pushed to additionally getting some mushy targets. However authorities isn’t taking any excuses.
“The president has directed that safety companies should, as a matter of urgency, be sure that these kids and all those that have been kidnapped are introduced again in security and likewise within the course of to make sure that not a dime is paid for ransom.
“So, it’s essential to underscore that no dime, authorities isn’t paying anyone any dime and the federal government is optimistic that these kids and different individuals which were kidnapped will probably be introduced again to their households in security.”
Requested what particular help the USA was ready to supply Nigeria within the rescue of the kidnapped kids, the minister stated different nations had additionally provided to assist.
He acknowledged, “Speaking about what help, if any, are we getting from different nations, particularly the US, properly, we’re conscious that it’s not simply the US that has really provided.
“Different nations have additionally provided to help Nigeria. However what we will inform you is that authorities continues to be reviewing these affords and the place of presidency will probably be made identified to you.”
Wike Assures of Improved Safety in FCT
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, assured of improved safety, together with discount in kidnapping, within the nation’s capital.
Wike gave the reassurance yesterday after a closed-door assembly with the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benedict Igweh, and the Senate on the state of safety within the territory.
The minister stated relating to the assembly, “It’s nothing troublesome, simply regular interactions, simply to transient them on what we’ve achieved as regards safety within the FCT.
“I’m glad they’re all pleased with what we’ve achieved and what we’re going to be doing and the suggestion, which they’ve given to us however which I can not confide in the members of public. That is only a very interactive session.
“What’s essential is what the FCT ought to count on from now. I’ll say improved safety, extra infrastructure. You may see what’s going on within the FCT. It has been was a development web site and you may also see what has occurred within the FCTA.
“Now we’ve our personal Civil Service Fee, now we’ve our personal everlasting secretaries, which had by no means been. There are new issues within the FCT and the residents are completely happy.” Wike added that from the interplay with the senators, it was agreed that safety had improved within the FCT.
“Let me additionally say that there is no such thing as a a part of the world the place criminality has been eradicated. Now we have heard a number of occasions in the USA of America, the place criminals go to varsities and shoot college students.
“So, individuals mustn’t have that impression that you just can not have one crime or the opposite. What we want is having the ability to restrict or cut back the extent of insecurity.
“But when anyone tells you that as societies are involved, you’ll not have one crime or the opposite, that’s not appropriate and we should inform ourselves the straightforward reality. Additionally, a lot of the kidnapping tales you hear, a few of them are stage-managed by individuals.”
Police Nab Killer of Wuse Market Offender
FCT Commissioner of Police, Benedict Igweh, stated the correctional officer, Usman Ishaya Magaji, who shot and killed a convicted offender, Ibrahim Yahaya at Wuse market on Tuesday had been arrested for questioning.
Igweh additionally stated sanity had been restored to the market. He assured the those who the FCT Police Command would proceed to work for the safety of the residents, stating that the drive would proceed to comb the forests bordering Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Kogi states.