“There’s no banditry in Abuja” – Wike insists, dismisses security concerns

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims of persistent banditry in Abuja, insisting that the nation’s capital remains secure.

Wike made this known on Monday while inspecting ongoing projects in the FCT, where he acknowledged that crime exists but maintained that reports of banditry are exaggerated.

“I have always said, we only hear one incident, but nobody talks about how we have been able to curb or reduce these crimes. There is nowhere in this world, even in developed countries, where there is no form of crime.

I don’t believe there is banditry in Abuja. But again, it is a city where people come to do all kinds of things — kidnapping and other crimes,” he admitted.

The FCT Minister noted that while isolated incidents such as kidnapping have occurred, security agencies have been effective in responding and rescuing victims.

He emphasized that crime cannot be completely eliminated in any city, but what matters is how effectively security agencies handle such situations.

“So, it will be difficult for anybody to say that in a city, you don’t have one form of crime or another. There is no recurrence of banditry. There is no banditry in Abuja. I know that the last time some people were kidnapped in Bwari, they were all rescued.

We do not need to always highlight one crime when several others have been prevented. Nobody has come out to commend the security agencies,” he concluded.