Reps decry criminal activities in Abuja

Members of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, called for drastic security measures by Heads of all the Security Agencies with a view to clampdown on One-chance motorists and kidnappers who use POS to withdraw from the accounts of their victims at gunpoint across the nation’s capital city, Abuja.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on urgent public importance on the ‘Need to call on the security agencies to beef up security measures in FCT and enhance synergy with the banks in Nigeria to unravel the owners of Bank accounts used by One Chance operators’, sponsored by Hon. Billy Osawaru who solicited for the House intervention.

In his lead debate, Hon. Osawaru otes the heinous operation of one chance and Kidnappers in FCT, Abuja, which has left their victims in a sorry state due to severe torture on them and their bank account emptied simultaneously at gunpoint.

“The House also notes the perpetrator’s alleged magical powers used to hypnotize their victims and take them to an unknown destination, where the money in their different bank accounts are emptied with the use of POS and other money transfer devices, and at the same time, inflict pain/injuries on them, rape their female victims and push them out of a speed moving vehicle afterwards.

“The House is concerned that the victims of this despicable act and bank account used for this criminal purpose seem to be difficult to track or trace, due to lack of synergy between the security agencies and Banks, and also the bank’s unwillingness to help customers and do proper investigation on their own with the excuses of waiting for Police extract or affidavit or other requirements that could be frustrating coupled with the money involved in the process which the victims whose money were stolen may no longer afford.

“The House is cognizance of the CBN directives mandating all Bank operators to ensure that individual or corporate accounts of every customer are linked to their NIN and BVN which means every transaction done within and outside the bank could be traced.

“The House is worried that in most cases, the phone numbers and bank accounts of their victims are used to borrow money from illegal and unauthorized loan apps of the companies in Nigeria, thereby incurring humongous debt which their victims must offset afterward.

“The House is also worried that on daily basis cases of such abound including that of our children/relatives, staff, secretaries, etc and if nothing urgent is done to curb the activities of one chance in the FCT, Abuja and other state in general, and its perpetrators brought to book, FCT may not be safe for every one of us to stay.”

To this end, the House tasked the Inspector General of Police and other heads of security agencies to enhance surveillance in FCT and nip in the bud the activities of one chance.

Hence, the House mandated authorities of Nigeria Police, all the banks, and FinTech operators like Opay and MoniePoint in Nigeria to give preference to such cases and ensure that victims get justice by providing on time, all information needed about the owner of the account used for such heinous act, also use their mechanism to get hold of the account and apprehend the criminal.

Similarly, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government to close down the operation of illegal and unauthorised loan companies in Nigeria used by these criminals.

The House thereafter mandated the Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to ensure the maximisation of the operation of Abuja Urban Mass Transit, whose buses are lying fallow in its office premises, to enable them to provide the FCT residents with a reliable transportation system and extend their services to 9:30 pm daily.

The House also mandated the joint Committee on FCT, Police Affairs, Banking Institutions, and Legislative Compliance to look into the resolution and ensure compliance.