Insecurity in FCT: Chilling Reports of Brazenness

The current worrisome security situation in the Federal Capital Territory is keeping residents on their toes while the government and security agencies sort for solution


Gone are the days when residents of Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) could go to bed with their two eyes closed. These days, kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killings, arson and other forms of insecurity now abound such that in the face of the worsening economic situation and hardship, residents are contending with how to keep safe. From the satellite towns of Lugbe, Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Nyanya, Karu, Mpape, Gwarimpa to villages in the city such as Kabusa, Galadimawa, Galadima, along Airport Road and even the city centre, among others, insecurity has remained a menace that residents are battling with day and night.

Abuja has become a hotbed of criminal activities for afore mentioned crimes including, robbers on wheels or what is euphemistically referred to as ‘one chance’ and carjacking. This development is giving residents, including the authorities cause for serious concern. This is because Abuja is home to people of varied backgrounds and nationality, including high-profile individuals, government officials, the diplomatic community, foreign dignitaries, artisans, and even the unemployed. It's home for the highbred and has become a place of refuge for people who have been displaced from their homes by the activities of insurgents.

Moreso, Abuja is equally the seat of power where the three arms of government, executive, legislative and judiciary as well as the security chiefs are based. According to security reports, some notorious flash points where criminals frequently operate; include major traffic terminals like Berger; Area 1; Area 2 Plaza; Area 10 in Wuse, Lugbe; Apo Mechanic Village axis; Kubwa Express Way; Jabi axis; City Gate; Mabushi bridge; Zone 2 among others. Many have traced the continual rise in insecurity to the influx of unemployed and unskilled young persons from different parts of the country and outside, including neighbouring countries.

Again, many argue that Abuja has become a destination for those escaping from areas ravaged by terrorism and banditry including the criminals themselves. Recently, a suburb of the Bwari Area Council, Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse, became the ominous stage for a brazen abduction. For instance, on a Sunday evening, a group of kidnappers, parading as herdsmen, infiltrated the estate, made away with eight residents and two hotel staff in what residents described as a daring assault. Another incident like the December 24 invasion of Garam community, situated just about five-minute drive from Bwari, that resulted in the tragic killing of a pastor and the abduction of 13 others as well as the bandit attacks on December 28 targeted at Kuduru in the FCT, which led to the kidnapping of 18 individuals, are indeed worrisome. In Kabusa, a suburb in Apo, kidnapping is a normal occurrence as there is hardly a day that passed without report of this act recorded. The other day, these kidnappers invaded a family of one Benson Okafor and took away his wife, sister-in-law and two children demanding for N15 million ransom.

These incidents occurred in various locations, including Gbau, Kuje, Gauge, Pegi, Abaji, Keti, and Kwali, and other parts of the city seemingly unchallenged by security agencies. The recent reported abduction in Dutse, where kidnappers killed three victims, including a 13-year-old high school student, due to the perceived delay in meeting the ransom demand comes to mind. The initial demand of N60 million per person was said to be upped to N100 million, totaling a staggering N700 million. Another case was reported of a public servant, one Surajudeen Olasinde, who shared a harrowing experience of his wife, Mistura, and two daughters, Hauwa and Fatima, that were kidnapped around the Galadima District. He reportedly narrated that the kidnappers initially demanded for N100 million ransom but ultimately settled for N2.8 million.

The situation is so troubling that even recreation centres, including gardens and parks in the FCT, which ordinarily ought to aid social interaction and relaxation, are now dark spots where questionable characters operate from, or share their ill-gotten loots after operations. A report by SB Morgen in 2020, ranked Abuja as the 11th location with frequent abductions. In the last three years, according to reports, Abuja has experienced almost 50 kidnap cases, involving over 200 individuals. From January 2021 to June 30, 2023, there were approximately 40 recorded cases, affecting 236 victims. Between October and December 2023 alone, there were 13 recorded kidnap incidents, involving 80 victims. Many believe that these figures are under estimated.

While reacting to reported kidnap of six sisters of one Nabeeha in the FCT recently, wife of the President, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu advocated for the unity of Nigerians and residents in particular, in prayers for the safe return of those still in captivity. Worried by rising spate of insecurity in the FCT and across the country, former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, linked the connection between increasing poverty and hunger in the country with the surge in insecurity. He called for concerted efforts to tackle insecurity.

Mrs. Yemi Akinwumi who narrated how armed robbers broke into her house in Kabusa area carting away electronic gadgets such as laptop, phones and N100, 000 said, the brazenness of the criminals is unbecoming. "The truth is that we don't have security agents, the police are just there, officers look the other way while the people are being robbed, kidnapped and killed. It is very unfortunate. I don't know who will help the commoners like me, except God."

"What is happening is fearful and the recurrent incidents underscore the need for robust and effective measures to safeguard us, the residents and restore a sense of security in Abuja because I doubt if anyone has confident in the security agencies with what is happening now," another resident John Abass stated. The FCT Police Command has equally confirmed the degenerating security situation in the FCT when it said that there has been a series of reported cases of kidnapping within the FCT, and that the Command was on top of the situation. As usual, the Command had cited the rescue of some kidnap victims as proof of its effort to secure the FCT.

Many are therefore canvassing for partnership between security agencies, community engagement, vigilante groups and strategic interventions from the FCT administration and the Federal government to tackle the evolving security challenges in Abuja. Residents of the federal capital city are in a frenzy hoping a quick solution can be found quickly. They also find it difficult to accept that the criminal elements are always miles ahead of the security agents both in terms of Intel and operations.