Fear Grips Abuja as Security Deteriorates: FCT Residents Demand Urgent Action

Yhe security situation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has taken a turn for the worse, leaving residents living in fear. Daily Trust on Sunday reports that not even the city center is spared, as daring criminals engage in car snatching, armed robberies, and ‘one-chance’ operations.

Satellite towns across the six area councils bear the brunt of the escalating insecurity, with villagers falling victim to frequent kidnappings, robberies, and bandit attacks.

In 2023 alone 36 people lost their lives, and 339 were abducted from various communities in the FCT. The most affected areas include Abaji, Bwari, Kuje, and Kwali Area Councils, with incidents also reported in Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Residents, forced to flee their homes due to the increased threat, point out that criminals operating in the FCT often hail from neighboring banditry-infested states.

Despite promises from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to address the rising insecurity by equipping security agencies and implementing digital security monitoring, the situation persists.

Recent attacks include the abduction of over 53 people, including children and women, in Bwari Area Council, and the killing of one person with the abduction of eight others in Kwali Area Council.

Security experts, including Abdulkarim Gazali and Biodun Ogunleye, emphasize the need for urgent government intervention, declaring a state of emergency on FCT security. They highlight the nexus between corruption and insecurity, calling for measures to address the root causes.

In response, the FCT Police Command assures residents of enhanced security measures, deploying Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in strategic locations. The Commissioner of Police, Haruna Garba, personally oversees the deployment, emphasizing the need for operational confidentiality to thwart criminal activities.

As residents grapple with a growing sense of insecurity, the call for decisive action and a comprehensive security strategy becomes increasingly urgent.