By Sarah NEGEDU
Contrary to widespread reports of an attempted bomb attack close to the Mogadishu Barrack in the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the incident was not a suicide bombing but an accidental explosion caused by a quarry worker.
Recall that news of a suspected suicide bombing near Mogadishu Barracks had filtered in on Monday, heightening security concerns among residents. The Abuja Inquirer had reported that the police had immediately launched an investigation into the incident.
However, the FCT minister, on Wednesday, explained that the explosion was ignited by a quarry worker who had kept an explosive in his pocket when it detonated, killing him instantly.
Wike, while fielding questions from journalists after inspecting ongoing projects in Abuja said, “Well, be careful not to create an impression. The security never said it was a suicide bomber. So that you don’t go and create an impression and put fear in people. You should try to do what we call investigative journalism. NEMA is not the head of security. Security agencies are there.
“What happened there was that somebody went to where we have these quarries, where they blast all these rocks and took the explosive and put it in his pocket. Of course some of them may not even understand the implication of that. And so it exploded on him. So that does not mean that it is a suicide bomber.”
While warning residents on the dangers of spreading false news, the minister assured that the FCT is safe and secured for all.
“So we should be careful in the story we will plant. And let not send the wrong message to the residents. You have said that the residents are also aware that there is improvement in security.
“So that is enough for us. We have got a lot to do what we are supposed to do. And to allay the fears of the residents that Abuja is still secured. In fact it is most secured are as far as this country is concerned. We are doing everything possible. So I did not get the report that the person is a suicide bomber. That is not correct.”
The Minister also decried the persistent non-payment of ground rent and other associated fees, describing the situation as a major hurdle to sustaining infrastructure development in the territory.
He lamented, “People just want facilities, people want infrastructure but nobody asks, where are you getting these funds? Abuja is not one of the oil cities. We only rely on taxes, and these are not new taxes. These are taxes that have been there for years.”
He expressed frustration with elites who own houses abroad and comply with tax obligations elsewhere but ignore similar payments in their own country.
“It is unfortunate that most elites own houses overseas. They know the implication of not paying your taxes. They know such houses are gone. But when it comes to your own country, you do not want to do that, simply because nobody wants to obey law and everybody thinks they are no sanctioned.”
The minister therefore warned that the government would no longer tolerate such act, saying the government will not succumb to blackmail.
“I can assure you, the President has given a window of two weeks. Let nobody think that blackmail or whatever will stop us. We will do what we are supposed to do. This is all about leadership. We will not give in for blackmail. We will do the right thing. If you have not paid, we will take.”
