Amid the surge in kidnappings and banditry, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has deployed the Special Intervention Squad in the Federal Capital Territory. The move is aimed at addressing the escalating criminal activities of kidnappers and bandits in border towns within the territory.
In response to the security situation, the Federal Government has cautioned against raising ransom for abducted victims, stating that this could exacerbate the security challenge in the country.
Scores of SIS operatives have been dispatched to the entry and exit points of the FCT to bolster security in the nation’s capital, which has recently been targeted by bandits.
The criminals, previously active on highways and in rural communities, have escalated their attacks on residents of Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Kaduna, and other urban centers.
Last week, kidnappers killed four of their victims, including Folashade Ariyo, who was abducted alongside her mother and three siblings from their home in the Dutsen-Alhaji area of the Bwari Area Council, FCT.
Additionally, the abductors murdered a 400-level student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, and a barman who was among the 23 hostages taken.
Egbetokun unveiled the SIS at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, emphasizing that the squad would be well-equipped and highly mobile, with an arsenal that includes sophisticated arms, drones, and vehicles.
The police’s approach to the crisis is comprehensive, with the SIS also engaging in community-oriented policing, according to Egbetokun.
He expressed the need for resolute action to address the rise in criminal activities, announcing the inauguration of the Special Intervention Squad as a dedicated unit to contain security breaches.
This initiative, Egbetokun stressed, is a demonstration of the commitment to enhancing the security architecture of the nation’s capital.
The SIS, envisioned to include a thousand personnel in each state, is composed of specially trained officers and men from each tactical unit of the Force, supported by operational assets such as sophisticated arms, drones, and vehicles.
Egbetokun clarified that the operation was not just a reaction to the security challenge but a strategic effort to dismantle criminal networks entrenched in the communities.
He emphasized the collaborative nature of public safety and the role of community leaders, residents, and stakeholders in fortifying the bonds between the Police Force and the communities.
He further assured the public that the operation is a tangible demonstration of the commitment to their security, with similar initiatives planned for other states.
After the inauguration, the SIS operatives conducted a ‘show of force’ in Bwari and were observed to be well-equipped with Armoured Personnel Carriers, patrol vehicles, buses, and a helicopter.
The Nigeria Police Force had previously announced the deployment of 40,000 SIS operatives, with training commencing in Katsina and nine other states, including the FCT.
Government cautions against ransom funds
In response to reports of desperate families seeking ransom funds for kidnapped victims, the Federal Government warned that crowd-funding for ransoms would embolden kidnappers and worsen the security situation.
The Defence Minister, Mohammed Abubakar, emphasized the existing law against payment of ransom and discouraged public donations for ransom payments, stating that it would only make kidnapping more profitable and challenging to end.
The recent kidnappings in Abuja suburbs were attributed to bandits fleeing military operations in the North-West and North-Central zones. Security agencies are committed to tracking down the bandits and preventing further abductions, the minister assured.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, held a town hall meeting with residents in the Bwari Area Council but did not meet with the families of the victims in the area.
The Commander of the SIS in the FCT, Commissioner of Police Bennett Igwe, led the operatives across the borders of the FCT and emphasized the operation’s jurisdictional reach and commitment to restoring peace.
