Senator Kingibe speaks out on earlier kidnapping warnings in Abuja

Senator Ireti Kingibe, the representative of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, expressed no surprise at the heightened insecurity in Abuja, stating that her earlier warnings about the issue were disregarded. Kingibe revealed that she had tried to bring the matter to the attention of security agencies, emphasizing the urgency of addressing security concerns in the FCT. In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, she disclosed that her alerts were dismissed, with assurances that the situation was exaggerated.

Recalling her efforts to highlight the growing insecurity, Kingibe stated, “I remember a few months ago, I drew the attention of the minister (Nyesom Wike) – when he came for appropriation – to the fact that security is a priority. And I have been saying that for a long time.” She pointed out instances, such as disturbances in Mpape and tragic incidents involving constituents, that she had brought to the minister’s notice, but claimed that no action was taken until the situation escalated.

While acknowledging the security agencies’ subsequent response to public outcry, Kingibe commended them for apprehending kidnappers and rescuing victims. However, she emphasized that addressing the root causes of insecurity is crucial, stating, “Catching the kidnappers is just the symptom. We need to get to the root cause of what is causing all of this insecurity.”

In addition, the Labour Party (LP) lawmaker urged the government to go beyond addressing the symptoms and focus on understanding and resolving the underlying issues contributing to the insecurity in the nation’s capital.