Kidnapping And Insecurity In FCT And Other Matters -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

My concern for the deplorable security situation in Nigeria is centered on its disruptive effects on the common hapless citizens that are being terrorized by the daredevil bandits while our politicians regale on frivolities. At present, Nigerians live like hostages in their country. In the bush, in the farm, on the highway or in your home the terrorist can come at any time. Mobility and productive activities in Nigeria are hampered by insecurity. The bandits operate unhindered with impunity and aplomb and our security agencies appear very helpless about it.

Most worrisome is the fact that no place is safe in the country now. In the Northeast, the Boko-Haram terrorists are firmly in control with no respite in sight. In the Northwest, it is the bandits and kidnappers that hold sway, controlling a huge swathe of our territory. In the Southeast, it is the unknown gun men that are riding roughshod on the people while in the Southwest, it the area-boys, ritual murderers, hooligans, tout, swindlers and extortionists that are in charge.

What is more troubling is the apparent silence of the APC government on the plight of the citizens. Nigeria is the most terrorized people on earth as it is now and the most insecure place to live on, no thanks to the negligence and ineptitude of the APC regime. Most of the incidences about banditry and kidnapping are not reported in the press. It is as if insecurity is now an instrument of governance in Nigeria. How can one trust or support a government that cannot provide the basic things that guarantee human freedom?

The Federal Capital Territory is not left out of the siege of insecurity. The highway from Abaji to Kogi State is in firm control of the kidnappers. The Kwali, Kuje and Gwagwalada Area Councils are besieged by bandits. The Abuja Municipal Council is not left out; armed robbers, car snatchers, swindlers and one-chance operators operate without let or hindrance. By far the most hit of the Abuja Area Councils is the Bwari where kidnappers go from house to house abducting hapless citizens making outrageous ransom demands. Media report has it that “from January 2021 to June 30th, 2023, 40 kidnap cases were recorded in FCT Abuja, with a staggering 236 victims. These incidents translate not only into human tragedies but also substantial economic losses, with verified ransom payments amounting to ₦653.7 million between 2021 and 2022. A 2020 report by SB Morgen further revealed that Abuja ranked 11th among places with rampant abductions, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and sustained efforts to curb this menace.”

And since the beginning of this year, there are many cases of kidnapping involving scores of victims and humongous ransom demands. On the 7th of January, 2024 the media reports have it that a group of bandits in military camouflage invaded Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse in Bwari Area Council of the FCT and kidnapped about ten people. The victims include the family of one Mansoor Al-Kadriyar and his daughters and two employees of the guest house where they lodged. The bandits also kidnapped the family of one Oladosu Folorunso a lawyer kidnapping his wife and four kids. And on January 12, the kidnappers murdered one of the Kadriyar’s daughter Nabeeha a twenty-one year old graduate of Biological Science from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria due to the inability of the family to meet with the 60 million Naira ransom demand.

On Sunday, the 14th day of January, there came the gory news of the murder of three other abductees including a 13-year old innocent secondary school girl, the daughter of an Abuja-based lawyer Oladosu Folorunso. Also at the weekend, kidnappers in military uniform stormed Dei-Dei Area along Kubwa-Zuba highway in the same Bwari Area Council and abducted about 23 people in three different housing estates. And at almost the same time it reported in the news that about two children, alongside nine adults, were also whisked away at Gbaupe village, behind Aco Estate, along Airport Road in Abuja.

The breakdown of those abducted by the bloodthirsty terrorists indicated that between Thursday and Sunday 7th January, 2024, a total of 85 persons were abducted. And on January 12, a menacing gang of terrorists abducted 23 residents of the Kawu village in the Bwari area, causing palpable fear among other residents. It is the same blood-chilling tale everywhere in Gbau, Kubwa, Gishiri, Gwarinpa, Pegi…Keti is completely sacked by bandits. The most frightening part of the whole thing is that the bandits appear emboldened by day, operating unhindered and in military fatigue keeping all and sundry confused as to who the real perpetrators of these crimes are.

And more worrisome is the seeming inaction from the FCT authorities. The FCT minister, who came talking tough, seems more concerned with demolition of the “illegal” structures of his perceived political enemies and maintaining his hegemony in the River State politics than doing anything productive in the FCT.

Indeed, it really unfortunate that bandits and rag-tag gang of insurgents can overwhelm our entire national security architecture despite the huge annual budget on national security. A responsible government would not accommodate this unsavory state of affairs in the country. There is urgent need to overhaul and rejig our security agencies if the country is to survive the current onslaught of the bandits and insurgents. Government should work on intelligence gathering, deploy committed officers and employ technology otherwise we may not have a country to call our own.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK