Wike assures protesting teachers of rescue efforts, warns against politicizing insecurity

FCT Minister Addresses Protests Over School Abductions

ABUJA — Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), assured teachers and civil society organizations protesting in Abuja on Tuesday that security agencies are intensifying efforts to secure the release of abducted teachers and students. He urged against politicizing the ongoing security challenges.

Wike spoke to demonstrators gathered outside the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Secretariat, where they demanded the immediate rescue of recent victims of school kidnappings. He emphasized the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure the safe return of those in captivity.

“Security agencies are actively working to rescue the victims and restore confidence in the nation’s security architecture,” Wike stated. He expressed his belief in the capabilities of the nation’s security institutions, calling for prompt action to resolve the situation.

“We are all concerned about this security situation. The government is on its toes to ensure that those who are kidnapped are rescued,” he said.

Wike cautioned against transforming security issues into political matters, noting that insecurity affects all regions of the country and should be approached as a collective challenge. He highlighted that similar incidents of teacher abductions have occurred in other states without provoking protests in the capital, urging citizens to respond to security threats in a unified manner.

“We are all concerned, but let us not politicize issues,” he added. “What concerns you concerns everybody, and what concerns Abuja also concerns everybody.”

The minister noted that security agencies were operating within established protocols and have made significant progress in their efforts. He reassured the public that no responsible government would intentionally allow its citizens to be vulnerable to criminal elements, acknowledging the difficult circumstances under which authorities operate to protect lives and property.

“There is no government that will deliberately say let citizens be kidnapped,” he stated. “We know the challenges we face, and everything possible is being done.”

Wike’s comments follow a growing public outcry over recent school abductions across the country, with calls from teachers’ groups and civil society organizations for enhanced security measures around educational institutions and the urgent return of victims.

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