The House of Representatives expressed serious concern on Tuesday over the increasing incidents of “one chance” criminal operations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), condemning the escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s capital.
During the plenary session, the House directed relevant committees to engage with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, the FCT Police Commissioner, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to address the alarming situation.
This decision was prompted by the tragic killing of Miss Nimah Sulaiman by “one chance” operators on Thursday, October 17, 2024. The motion for urgent national importance was sponsored by Ismail Haruna Dabo, whose Legislative Aide, Miss Sulaiman, was the victim.
Additionally, the House mandated its Committee on FCT to investigate the prevalence of unregistered and unpainted taxis in the capital, as well as conduct a broader inquiry into kidnapping and armed robbery activities. The committee is expected to report its findings within three weeks.
Dabo, representing Toro Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, voiced deep concern over the surge in kidnappings and robberies linked to “one chance” operations. He highlighted the deteriorating security situation in the FCT, where incidents have escalated from remote suburbs to the city center and affluent estates. The rise of unregistered taxis, he noted, has facilitated criminal activities.
He recounted the tragic case of Miss Sulaiman, who was abducted at gunpoint at Bannex Junction, Wuse 2, while heading home to Jahi District. Despite paying the full ransom, her life was tragically cut short, with her body discovered later that night at the Maitama/Minister’s Hill Bridge.
Dabo emphasized that this heinous crime has sent shockwaves through the community, underscoring the urgent need for lawmakers to ensure the safety and security of citizens in the FCT