Wike gives local vigilante operation vehicle, cash reward for rescuing kidnap victims

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has rewarded local vigilante groups in Kwali Area Council, Abuja, with an operation vehicle and a cash reward for rescuing four kidnapped victims.

Wike made a gesture on Tuesday when he visited the area council to inspect an ongoing road project.

The rescued victims were presented hail and hearty to the Minister at Kaita Gembu, a community in the Area Council.

The minister who lauded the display of bravery and courage by the vigilante groups said the operation vehicle and the undisclosed amount of cash gift would motivate them to more actions against insecurity.

While he urged all residents to work with the administration to ensure that criminal elements and their evil activities were brought to an end, he reiterated his commitment to implementing policies that are people-oriented.

The minister said the rural road projects across the six area councils were parts of the efforts of President Bola Tinubu towards alleviating the economic hardship of the people.

He also used the occasion to call on leaders at all levels within the communities to shun people who want to disguise themselves as anti-government protesters but have the intention to unleash mayhem.

Earlier, the Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, said that the kidnap victims were picked from their homes in Kuje Area Council and taken to Kwali forest, by the kidnappers.

One of the rescued victims, Isaac Gbemu, said, “We were in our house around midnight when we heard gunshots. Initially, we thought it was armed robbers, but when the people broke into the compound, we discovered they were kidnappers.”

“They took us away that night and brought us to the bush which we didn’t know. We spent three days before the vigilante rescued us.”

The community members expressed joy for the good things that started happening in their area council.

The vigilante members too expressed joy and gratitude for the cash reward and the operation vehicle as they would motivate them to do more.