Wike Condoles Military Over Delta Killings, To Support Victims Families
By: Wisdom Acka
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has condoled with the Nigerian Military over the gruesome killing of 17 soldiers in Okuoma community, Delta State.
Wike expressed the condolence when the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, paid him a visit, Friday.
Describing the killings as “barbaric and heinous”, Wike promised the Chief of Army Staff that the FCT Administration would support the military in whatever form to improve the security situation in the country and maintain the territorial integrity of the FCT and nation at large.
He said: “Do not hesitate to tell us whatever support you need from the FCT”, he said.
Wike disclosed that the National Assembly had passed the 2024 FCT Statutory Budget; adding that the budget provides for the procurement of drones for security purposes in the FCT.
His words: “We have made provisions in the budget to buy drones to help security agencies in their efforts to reduce the level of crime in the whole of FCT.
“We are providing logistics to the security agencies and in the next few days, patrol vehicles and the communication gadgets for the security agencies will be ready.
“What we are also trying to do is to build an FCT Rapid Response Centre that will be managed by a joint team of the military, police, Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
Wike revealed that the centre would be equipped with every form of modern technology to strengthen the fight against insecurity.
Earlier, Gen. Musa explained that the visit was to commend the Minister for the transformation in the FCT within the short time of being in office as FCT Minister.
The General, who assured the Minister of support of the members of the Armed Forces, reminded the Minister that the Armed Forces were duty bound to defend and protect Nigerians and the country, so would not in whatever way infringe on the rights of the people.
On the menace of one chance, kidnappings and other forms of criminalities, Gen. Musa said that he had set up a committee to see how to support ongoing response.
He promised to support the Nigerian Police with ground and air troops in their efforts to maintain peace.
“We are looking at how we can assist the police in responding to acts of criminality.
“What we are trying to do is to build a force that will be on standby 24/7, in case there’s anything happening, we can provide additional support to the police”, he said.
