Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the security records of the nation’s capital, insisting that Abuja remains safe and should not be misrepresented by isolated criminal incidents.
Wike, who spoke with journalists last week after inspecting some ongoing infrastructure projects, commended the security agencies for what he described as consistent and effective work in keeping the FCT secure.
He said recent commentary painting Abuja as overrun by bandits was misleading and failed to reflect the daily efforts and successes of security formations across the territory.
The minister argued that like every major city around the world, Abuja is not immune to criminal activity, but maintained that the situation does not amount to banditry or a breakdown of security.
He cited the recent rescue of kidnap victims in Bwari as evidence of ongoing, coordinated efforts that rarely receive the same attention as negative reports.
Wike insisted that, “There is nowhere in this world, be it any developed country, that you will say there is no crime. I don’t believe there is banditry in Abuja, but again, it’s a city where people will want to come and do all kinds of things like kidnapping.
“So, it will be difficult for anybody to say that in a city, you will not have one form of crime or the other.”
The minister expressed concern that public discourse tends to magnify single events while ignoring the volume of threats intercepted before they escalate, noting that many foiled plots are never publicised.
He said the imbalance in reporting undermines the work of security agencies and fuels unnecessary fear among residents.
“The point is that we only hear one incident, but nobody has said, Oh, we have been able to curb or reduce this,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the public and the media to take note of the broader picture and support security agencies who, according to him, remain fully committed to reducing crime across the FCT.
“As far as I’m concerned, they (the security agencies) are really taking their work very seriously and we need to give them the necessary support.
“We don’t need to always advertise one crime when they have stopped about 50 crimes and nobody has come out to commend the security agencies and the administration. Each day, what we hear is there is one kidnapping somewhere. I think we should commend the security agencies,” he said.
He maintained that the FCT Administration is working closely with all security formations to sustain ongoing efforts and prevent criminal networks from gaining ground in satellite communities.
Wike assured residents that the administration and security agencies remain alert and committed to preventing crime, managing threats, and responding swiftly whenever incidents occur.
