The House of Representatives has called for immediate action against one-chance criminals and kidnappers in Abuja who use Point of Sale (POS) machines to rob victims at gunpoint.
This resolution came after a motion by Hon. Billy Osawaru, who highlighted the growing threat these criminals pose to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He described how victims are tortured, hypnotized, and forced to reveal their bank details, leading to financial losses and psychological trauma.
The House expressed concern over the lack of cooperation between banks and security agencies in addressing these crimes. Hon. Osawaru noted that banks often require victims to provide police reports or affidavits, which complicates the process of recovering funds or tracking perpetrators.
To address the issue, the lawmakers directed security agencies to increase surveillance and apprehend the criminals. They also tasked banks and financial technology platforms like Opay and MoniePoint to prioritize cases of fraudulent transactions and share account details linked to the crimes.
The House further urged the Federal Government to shut down illegal loan companies being used by criminals to exploit victims.
Additionally, the lawmakers called on the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to revive the Abuja Urban Mass Transit system and extend its services to 9:30 pm daily, providing residents with safer transportation options.
A joint committee has been set up to ensure the full implementation of these measures and restore safety to the nation’s capital.
