By Ken Afor
Following the recent wave of kidnappings and killings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered security operatives to produce two notorious criminals who were declared wanted by the police command.
The minister, while giving directives to the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, on Wednesday, placed a N20 million bounty on the two criminals.
Wike, who witnessed the parade at the command of some of the criminals arrested, said that the government will provide the necessary support to fight crime in the FCT.
‘’You said there are about two or three more persons to be arrested; let me put money on their heads. Wherever they are, send your men after them, I will give them N20 million, go and fish them out from wherever they are, use that money on their head I want to see them dead or alive,” Wike said.
“We will do everything humanly possible to provide all that you require to fight crime in the FCT. We believe in the next few weeks, you will get more vehicles, more communication gadgets that will enable you and your men to face these criminals.”
Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, assured residents of the FCT that with the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the administration is prepared to face the criminals. He called on the residents to support the police with intelligence gathering, which is key in fighting crime.
“And let me assure the residents of FCT that with the support of Mr. President, we are fully prepared to face them. Every day is for the thief, the next day is for the owner of the house.”
“Information is key. Without information, there is nothing the police can do. I urge you to still do more in intelligence gathering. It is intelligence that has led to these arrests,” Wike added.
It would be recalled that following the arrest of some suspected kidnappers, N9 million ransom was recovered.
The FCT Commissioner of Police noted that since the command’s intensified efforts, a group of eight members of a one-chance gang were arrested, including a gang of kidnappers terrorizing the FCT.
‘’Furthermore, the head of a syndicate gang of criminals operating with their wives over the years has been arrested. ‘’They are responsible for the kidnappings and killings at Kabusa, Defense estate and environs,’’ Igweh said.
