Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recounted how gunmen in their hundreds on Thursday night invaded Zuba, a town under Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), bordering Niger State, shooting in the process.
Residents said that gunshots were heard in the town and friends and family were making calls to their loved ones to rush home and inquire about their safety. They were posting on social media platforms warning about the gunshots heard in Zuba, advising people heading in the direction to turn back.
However, the Federal Capital Territory Administration said it had taken steps to rejig security operations and collaborations with states contiguous to Abuja to curb rising insecurity in the nation’s capital.
Speaking at the FCT security committee’s meeting, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, explained that with the move, security operatives in the neighbouring states and the FCT would take the attack to the enclaves of the terrorists terrorising their territories. The neighbouring states are Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Benue and Plateau.
Babaji believed that the action would help to adequately secure the FCT.
He was quoted to have said these in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT, Anthony Ogunleye, late Thursday.
The statement partly read, “In order to enhance the provision of security in the nation’s capital, the FCT Administration has taken steps to re-invigorate the G7 security operations which involves security collaboration and partnerships with states that are contiguous to the Federal Capital Territory.
“According to the FCT CP, the re-invigoration of the G7 security operations will see the commencement of security actions and procedures by members of the G7, which will involve taking the fight to the bandits and terrorists in their camps which are mostly located in states bordering the FCT.
“The Police Commissioner, however, called for the collaboration and cooperation of residents of the FCT whom he urged to provide actionable and timely intelligence to the security agencies while also calling them to be security conscious at all times.”
He also assured residents of their safety and urged them to go about their lawful activities.
Babaji added, “I’m also assuring them that the FCT is safe. Every member of the community should go about their lawful businesses. We are on top of the situation. We have deployed our men both overt and covert and we are doing everything possible in synergy with all the security agencies, with the support of our traditional rulers and religious leaders to make sure that FCT is safe,” he assured.
The Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Minister, Ambassador Abu Mohammed, while corroborating the CP, revealed the readiness of the heads of security agencies in the neighbouring states to participate actively in the G7 operations.
He also called on residents to be wary of fake news especially on the social media which are designed to cause panic amongst the citizenry.