Some of the kidnap cases recorded in the Federal Capital Territory are allegedly staged, as a number of abductions were discovered to have been masterminded by insiders.
According to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, some of the kidnappings were carried out in connivance with employees, or those close to the victims.
The minister, disclosed it while briefing journalists after a closed-door session with Senators at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday.
The lawmakers had summoned the minister and Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Bennett Igwe, to brief them on the modalities put in place to secure residents of FCT.
Wike, told journalists that though the pace of kidnapping in the FCT had relatively improved, the scourge could not be totally eliminated as long as the perpetrators enjoy inside corporation.
In his words, “Most of the kidnapping stories you hear, some of them are stage managed by people. There are some internal arrangements. Take for example, you have a house keeper or a driver in the house who will plot to kidnap the child of their boss. In such case what do you expect us to do? What we can do is to ensure that the person that is kidnapped is released, but to stop it will be difficult because its an in house arrangement where a driver that is paid to go and pick his boss children from school will mastermind their kidnapping so these are the things we should know. I’m not saying there are no kidnapping.
“Mind you two of the most wanted kidnappers have been arrested and that’s why you see that the level of kidnapping has reduced. We are not saying we have gotten to where we want to be, but we are doing alot and people should acknowledge that what used to be is not what we are seeing now.
“We will continue to do our best to ensure that we provide the best to our people. We cannot give you the assurance that there will be no form of criminality, no body can do that, as long as we are human.”
The minister said that the interaction with the lawmakers was fruitful, adding that Senators had agreed that security has significantly improved in the FCT.
“I am glad they are all happy with what we have done, what we are going to be doing and they provided some suggestions on ways forward.
“What is important is what the FCT should expect from now. I will say improved security, more infrastructure. You can see what is going on in the FCT. It has been turned into a construction site.
“You can also see what has happened in the FCTA. Now we have our own Civil Service Commission; now we have our own Permanent Secretaries which has never been. There are new things in the FCT, and the residents are happy,” Wike said.
