The Abuja Youth Forum has faulted Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his recent claim that Abuja is the safest city in Nigeria.
Led by Comrade Ayuba Danladi, the group described Wike’s remark as “political theatre” that dismisses the daily struggles of residents who face rising insecurity in the capital.
Citing recent incidents, the forum referenced the abduction and killing of Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, a renowned veterinary doctor and former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), FCT chapter. Ogbu was kidnapped from his Kubwa home alongside his three children and later found dead by the roadside, while his children remain missing.
The group also mentioned the murder of Arise News anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who was killed during an armed robbery at her Katampe residence last week — an incident that sparked public outrage and renewed fears over safety in the FCT.
“These headline tragedies are not isolated,” the forum said, noting the surge in one-chance robberies, carjackings within the city centre, and repeated vandalism of power transmission lines that have plunged several areas into darkness.
According to the forum, Wike’s insistence that Abuja is safe reflects “a troubling lack of empathy” for residents’ experiences.
“Abuja is not Rivers where political posturing may have been tolerated. The people of the FCT will not be railroaded into accepting assurances in place of safety,” the statement read.
Danladi reminded the minister that he is an appointee of the federal government, not “an emperor of the territory,” urging him to confront the capital’s security challenges head-on.
“The first step to solving insecurity is to admit that it exists. Denial is a dangerous luxury when citizens are being killed, kidnapped, and terrorised,” he added.
The group called for an overhaul of the FCT’s security structure, greater involvement of youth leaders, traditional rulers, and religious figures in community policing, and an independent review of ongoing security operations. It also demanded regular updates from security agencies and the minister’s office.
“Accepting that a problem exists is the first step to solving it. Words without sustained, transparent action are unacceptable,” the forum stated.
The Abuja Youth Forum pledged to work with relevant stakeholders to restore peace and warned that it will hold public officials accountable for failure to protect residents.
