Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is gripped by a harrowing wave of insecurity as bandit-related violence claims the lives of 36 individuals and results in the abduction of over 300 people throughout the year 2023.
Residents across the FCT, including the city centre, are besieged by a rising tide of criminal activities.
Carjackings, armed robberies, and ‘one-chance’ crimes have become distressingly common occurrences, instilling fear and trepidation among the populace.
The once tranquil satellite towns across the FCT’s six area councils have now become the epicentre of rampant criminal activities. Villagers find themselves vulnerable to daily threats of kidnappings, robberies, and brazen attacks by bandits.
The dire statistics compiled by Daily Trust on Sunday paint a stark picture. Within a year, the lives of 36 people were tragically cut short, while an alarming count of 339 individuals fell victim to abductions from various communities across the territory.
Communities in Abaji, Bwari, Kuje, and Kwali Area Councils have borne the brunt of this security crisis. However, pockets of incidents have also emerged in Gwagwalada Area Council and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The escalating threat has prompted an exodus, with distressed residents fleeing their homes in a bid to seek safer havens.
Delving into the data, the report reveals a grim reality: 11 casualties in Kuje, seven each in Bwari and AMAC, five in Kwali, and three in both Abaji and Gwagwalada during 2023.
Disturbingly, community leaders and residents note that numerous attacks went unreported, intensifying concerns about the accurate scale of the crisis.
Criminal elements infiltrating these FCT communities are believed to originate from neighbouring states grappling with entrenched banditry.
Abaji shares borders with Nasarawa, Kogi, and Niger states, while Bwari borders Niger and Kaduna states. Kuje, renowned for its vast forests, shares boundaries with Nasarawa State.
Acknowledging the severity of the situation, experts advocate for urgent measures. Suggestions range from declaring an emergency on FCT security to addressing corruption within the defence sector, underscoring the need for collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
In an interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, a security expert, Abdulkarim Gazali, called on the government to declare a state of emergency on FCT security.
He said that the government was paying lip service to security in the territory.
He charged the FCTA to deploy security agents that would work closely with locals.
“I want to also tell you that the reason banditry and kidnapping will not end in the FCT is that some people, including top officers and some chiefs, are benefiting from the insecurity.
“And until the government declares a state of emergency on security, it will discourage investors coming to the FCT,” he said.
Another security expert, Biodun Ogunleye, said: “A good way to start is to deal with corruption in the defence sector. There is a correlation between corruption and insecurity.”
