Insecurity: Wike orders clearance of shanties harbouring dangerous criminals in Kukwaba rail corridor in Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate clearance of illegal shanties and identified security flashpoints along the Kukwaba rail corridor, close to Karmajiji, in the heart of Abuja.

The directive was issued on Friday, July 31, 2026, following an emergency high-level security meeting at the Minister’s official residence in Life Camp, after which the Minister led heads of various security agencies in the FCT on a direct, joint inspection of the affected site.

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Addressing security chiefs during the initial briefing, Barr. Wike stressed the necessity of a hands-on, proactive approach to intelligence and enforcement rather than static decision-making.

“We have seen where insecurity is breeding, and we cannot allow it to reach a stage where it becomes difficult to control. We have to stop it now. What I saw is a threat to the city. I couldn’t believe such a thing could exist here”, Barr. Wike stated.

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The Minister emphasized that the illegal settlements serve as covert hideouts for criminal elements, posing a direct threat to the safety of residents in the nation’s capital.

Following the site inspection along the Kukwaba rail corridor, Barr. Wike reiterated that firm action would be taken without sentiment to safeguard the city center.

“People commit crimes and move in here; you don’t even know who they are. How do you identify and locate them? And this is inside the city. There is no way we can allow this. There is nothing emotional about it… It will be a terrible thing to allow such to continue”.

To restore order and security to the area, the FCT Minister directed the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi to work with the Department of Development Control to demolish the illegal settlement and prevent any re-occupation of the rail corridor.

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