Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, over 200 violent attacks have been recorded across all six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leading to the death of at least 87 residents and the kidnapping of 176 individuals.
The figures were compiled from data provided by Beacon Consulting, a local security monitoring firm, and various media reports on violent incidents, including kidnappings and killings in the FCT.
The rising insecurity in the FCT has become a cause for concern among residents and authorities. Once considered relatively immune to security challenges, the capital city is now grappling with an increasing wave of criminal activities, particularly kidnapping.
Over the last three years, close to 50 kidnap cases have been recorded in Abuja, involving more than 200 individuals. The severity of the issue is evident when analyzing data from January 2021 to June 2023, revealing approximately 40 recorded cases with 236 victims.
Economic consequences are substantial, with confirmed ransom payments totalling N653.7 million between 2021 and 2022. Residents and businesses in affected areas bear the brunt of security challenges, impacting daily life and economic activities.
Notable incidents in the past seven months include the abduction of seven persons, including six girls, on January 5, 2024, in the Bwari Area Council. The latest incident involves the kidnapping of the wife and an in-law of a lawyer, Cyril Adikwu, on January 18, 2024, in the Kurudu area of Abuja.
In response to the surge in insecurity, Inspector-General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun launched the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) on Wednesday.
The SIS is tasked with patrolling and securing communities in the border areas of the FCT to curb and mitigate violent attacks. The deployment aims to address the security concerns in the FCT, especially in crisis-prone areas and exit routes.
While Nigerians call for lasting solutions to the security challenges, the SIS, composed of specially trained officers, is expected to intervene rapidly and effectively in containing security breaches. The move is part of the police’s comprehensive approach to tackling the rising criminal activities in and around the FCT.
