Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are living in fear as the security situation in the nation’s capital continues to deteriorate, with escalating incidents of kidnappings, armed robberies, and attacks by criminal elements. Daily Trust on Sunday reports that the city centre is not exempt from these dangers, as car snatchers, armed robbers, and ‘one-chance’ criminals operate brazenly.
Satellite towns across the six area councils have been particularly hard-hit, with villagers facing daily threats of kidnappings, robberies, and attacks by bandits. In 2023 alone, the FCT witnessed no fewer than 36 fatalities and 339 abductions across various communities.
Communities in Abaji, Bwari, Kuje, and Kwali Area Councils reported the highest number of incidents. However, the data, based on media reports, may not capture all attacks, as residents and community leaders suggest that many incidents go unreported.
Residents express concern that criminals operating in FCT communities face little resistance and may come from neighboring states plagued by banditry. The boundaries shared by FCT area councils with states like Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kaduna contribute to the infiltration of criminal elements.
The FCTA Security Services Department identified Bwari, Kuje, and Abaji Area Councils as the worst-hit by kidnappings, with isolated cases reported in other area councils. The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, pledged to address insecurity by equipping security agencies and implementing a digital security monitoring system within the FCT transport management system.
Recent attacks have seen an alarming rise in abductions, with more than 53 people, including children, women, and farmers, abducted within a few weeks in villages within Bwari Area Council. The situation has forced residents to flee their homes, seeking safety elsewhere.
Security experts call for urgent measures, urging the government to declare a state of emergency on FCT security. They emphasize the need for collaboration between security agents and locals to effectively tackle the rising wave of criminal activities.
The FCT Police Command responds by deploying Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in strategic locations to enhance safety and security. The Commissioner of Police, Haruna Garba, personally oversees the deployment, assuring residents that efforts are ongoing to curb criminal activities and improve the overall security landscape in the FCT.
