Wike orders demolition of Abuja criminal hideout, calls it a 'time bomb'

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered the demolition of an illegal settlement near Karmajiji in Kukwaba District, Abuja, describing it as a suspected hideout for criminals. He gave the directive on Friday after leading security officials on an inspection of the area following a meeting of the FCT Security Committee.

Wike said intelligence reports indicated suspected criminals often return to the area after carrying out attacks in different parts of the capital. He said, "Look at the area. You don't even know who the occupants are. How do you identify them? How do you know where to locate them? And this is inside the city." He added, "This is a time bomb. There's no way we can allow this. The FCT Administration will not allow criminal hideouts to thrive in Abuja."

The minister directed the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, to work with the Department of Development Control to demolish the settlement. He warned that anyone using such locations to support criminal activities would face the full weight of the law. This is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate criminal hideouts and enhance public safety across the territory. Does this demolition actually solve the problem, or just displace it to another corner of Abuja?