FCT residents recount ordeal as anxiety mounts over insecurity

..FG bars NSCDC, NCS, NIS from wearing camouflage uniforms

BY ORIAKU IJELE, ANDREW OROLUA & BARTH EZE

Despite the preponderance of security agencies’ headquarters at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, it’s worrisome that the much fancied Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is being haunted by insecurity in an unprecedented proportion.

With the Nigeria Army, NA, Nigeria Navy, NN, Air Force, AF, Nigeria Police, NPF, Department of State Security Service, DSS, Office of National Security Adviser, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Services, NSC, an earshot away, the hopes of millions of residents of Abuja seem to be fading each passing day as banditry takes a toll on the metropolis.

According to some residents, the territory is now in the hands of terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, ‘one-chance’ drivers, armed robbers and other sundry criminal elements.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that over 500 residents may have been kidnapped in the last one year, with some fractions killed in the process, while hundreds of millions of naira have been paid as ransom, making the territory the Federal Capital of Terrorists-FCT.

Sunday Times survey indicates that on daily basis, people are being kidnapped, across class and age groups. Even the most fortified places, estates, highbrow areas, villages, parks and gardens are no longer safe.

As early as 6pm, Abuja wears the colour of a desert region, as people quickly make a retreat to their homes. It’s also suicidal to go out as early as 5am in Abuja for fear of being a victim.

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This new trend has been as a source of concern to the residents who wonder if this would ever be over. “Neighbours, families, friends, colleagues and school mates are missing their loved ones every day, with no clue of their whereabouts,”, says Lukman Umar, an UBER operator, “it is affecting business generally, because there is this air of uncertainty in the air. As early as 6pm, people are hurrying home and they do not want to come out until 6am when everywhere is clear. It is a terrifying experience that what we once thought could happen in Sambisa Forest is here with us.”

Ruth Eze, a teacher told Sunday Times, that what makes it more frightening is that the criminals do not care about class in taking on any victim. “Before now, one would have thought that kidnappers only go for rich people, who can afford the ransom, but these ones operating in Abuja do not care. Whoever they come across, they will mention an amount of money and expect the person to either sell his house or do crowd-funding to raise the money. It sends jitters down our spines, honestly”, she lamented.

The security agencies are not relenting on their efforts, despite the ugly scenario. The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on 17th January, 2024, launched Special Intervention Squad (SIS) at Force Headquarters, Abuja to curb the menace of kidnapping and armed banditry and other sundry crimes in the Federal Capital Territory.

Despite the launch of this special squad, kidnapping earned more dimension even though the Force are claiming that the SIS, has yielded positive results as all the identified bandit’s routes especially in Bwari Area Council have been blocked by the Police, thereby denying them access into the FCT via Niger, Kaduna and Nasarawa States.

According to the police, since the establishment of SIS, no case of kidnapping has been recorded in that axis.

Police claimed that in addition, many kidnapping and armed robbery suspects have been arrested and victims rescued.

The FCT Police Command said several arms and live ammunitions and vehicles taken away from victims have been recovered.

But Sunday Times investigations can authoritatively report that since the launch of SIS, no fewer than 15 people have been kidnapped.

On January 17, 2024, at about 19.00hrs, the complainant/victim, Segun Akinyemi of No 10 Birnin Kebbi street, Garki 2 Abuja, was abducted in front of his house while driving out with his gray coloured Hilux Van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL by four armed men who laid siege in a white Mercedes Benz 230 car.

The FCT police command said through the control room, the patrol teams and men on the entry/exit points, were alerted, which helped the rescue of the victim while the suspects were allegedly arrested.

It was gathered that the CP FCT placed a call to his counterparts in the contiguous states especially Kaduna, and the contact paid off leading to the interception and arrest of the armed hoodlums at a filling station in Kawo, Kaduna State by the police operatives in Kaduna.

FCT Police said there was an exchange of fire between the police operatives and the kidnappers. “While three of them escaped, one of the suspect later identified as Chinaza Philip Okoye was arrested. Three (3) English pistols with fifteen (15) rounds of live ammunition and the said Hilux Van were recovered from him.

“The victim who was in the vehicle was rescued unhurt.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that two out of four (4) armed men are Abuja-based; Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and one Chidibere.

“It was also discovered that Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and his accomplices had earlier been arrested, sometimes in November 2023, for armed robbery, and a snatched Honda car was recovered from them.

“He and his accomplices were arraigned before a High Court Judge in Kwali, Abuja, but were granted court bail, only for the suspects to get involved in this particular kidnapping case.” FCT Police Command said in a media conference.

As if that wasn’t enough, on January 18, 2024, at about 22:45hrs, the DPO Iddo division received a distress call that some armed bandits in a black coloured Toyota Corolla fired the tyres of a moving Prado Jeep of one male adult later identified as Suleiman Sabo on his way home in Sabon Lugbe, thereby forcing him to stop.

He was whisked away in the kidnappers’ vehicle to an unknown location, leaving behind his Prado Jeep and his wife.

The police operatives from Iddo Division and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command made a concerted effort to have the victim rescued and suspects arrested.

The effort paid off on January 21, 2024, when the DPO received information that something abnormal was happening in a particular house at Sauka village.

The DPO was said to have moved in and cordoned off the house, the kidnapped victim was found with one Mohammed Abel armed with Mark IV riffle and 10 rounds of live ammunition was found on him.

The suspect was promptly arrested and the arms recovered from him. The victim was rescued but with gunshot injuries.

He is currently on admission at NAF hospital, Airport road, Abuja receiving treatment and in a stable condition.

Again, on January 20, 2024 at about 1007hrs, DPO River Park Division received a distress call from one Davison Henry, in River Park Estate that, his uncle one Nnamdi Agu, of Games Village Estate has not been seen for two days and he received a phone call from a strange number asking him to bring money if he want his uncle to be released.

In the process, he lured the caller to River Park Estate to collect money in order to facilitate the release.

Meanwhile, report has been made before the police where upon the police operatives laid siege, waiting for them to come for the ransom.

In less than two hours, one Adamu Abubakar and Bello Hassan all males of IDP Camp Durumi emerged in a Toyota Corolla car with Reg. NO KMC 170 TT and were promptly arrested.

In the course of investigation, it was gathered that Nnadi Agu was never kidnapped at all.

He faked his own kidnap to extort money from his brother, the complainant.

Also happening in Abuja is the case of robbery. On January 21, 2024 at about 22:30hrs, three armed hoodlums, who specialised in handset and handbag snatching accosted a woman, Elvin Okolie of Durumi village while waiting to board a taxi cab at Area 1 roundabout.

The police said the hoodlums while armed with a machete on top of motorcycle snatched the woman handbag and sped off with their motorcycle, while the woman shouted for help.

It was gathered the lady luckily, ran out of the suspects and the police from Durumi Police Station on stop and search, accosted and stopped the motorcycle and arrested one Musa Abdullahi ‘M’ of no fixed address with a machete stained with blood while his two other accomplices escaped.

“The injured victim is receiving treatment at National Hospital, Abuja but in a stable condition. The suspect in custody is assisting the police to apprehend two of his accomplices on the run.” Police said.

Equally disturbing is the attempted car theft on January 21, 2024 at about 16.30hrs, police operatives from Life Camp Division on routine surveillance patrol intercepted one Damilola Akeredolu ‘M’ inside a Toyota corolla car with reg. No. RSH 144 RD, ash in colour belonging to one Blessing Aigbagboga ‘F’ of Efab Global Estate Life Camp, which she parked in front of her residence.

Police investigation revealed that, the suspect was not the owner of the said vehicle but gained access into it with intention to steal the vehicle.

FCT command explained that the suspect is currently undergoing interrogation and would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.

“I wish to inform the general public that several heinous crimes have been prevented by the police command without people knowing. It is when it does over that people get to know about it.

“The Command is always committed and willing to work with you (residents of the FCT) to defeat crime and criminality in all its forms in the Federal Capital Territory. What we need most is your understanding and cooperation. “

SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, in a recent statement during the Yuletide on the activities of the kidnapers and police efforts in tackling the menace said in response to concern of kidnapping incidents in the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Police Command has declared determination to frustrate the bandits behind the kidnapping.

She said that police, while declaring an unwavering commitment to fortifying security measures, have deployed rigorous strategies to prevent any attempts at kidnapping.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to avert any potential threats and maintain the peace and security of the Federal Capital Territory.

“To bolster these efforts, residents are expected to exhibit unwavering cooperation with law enforcement agencies, acting patriotically to enhance overall security,” she said.

However, on January 27, 2024, at about 11:30pm, police said they received a distress call at Iddo Division that, sounds of gunshot were heard around Sabon Lugbe axis.

According to the Police, a patrol team were drafted to the scene where one Blessing Eze ‘F’ was met with a bullet wound on her shoulder inside a Toyota corolla car with RSH 724 KC, black in colour.

The said Blessing explained that, she and her husband one Joshua Eze, were returning back home when some hoodlums in unknown vehicle double crossed them, fired shots at their vehicle and abducted her husband to unknown destination.

It was gathered that in response, IGHP Special Intervention Squad (SIS), police anti- kidnapping Unit of the command and other tactical section swung into action and rescued the victim unhurt at Kuje Forest on 28/01/2024 at about 06:20pm.

In a related development, on 28 January, 2024, at about 05:30am, one Peter Ede in company of one Thankgod Ogunyi all males of Piwoyi Lugbe reported at Karmo Division that, on same date at about 01:50am, while praying at Idu Gbagyi mountain Karmo, some criminal elements numbering about seven armed with guns and cutlasses attacked them and abducted the three.

The victims were taken to unknown destination.

According to the police, on receiving the report, police operatives from Karmo Division led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Abaya Haruna, swiftly mobilized to the scene, combed the surrounding bushes and hills between Karmo to Gwagwa.

The police said that they engaged the hoodlums in a serious gun duel and rescued the three victims unhurt. The names of the victims are one Igbodi Emeka ‘M’, Precious Uche ‘F’ and Eric Chukwudi ‘M’.

Penultimate Thursday night, in the heat of incessant attacks, kidnappers broke into the Nigeria Post Army Estate in Abuja and took two individuals hostage.

According to reports, the incident occurred in the Phase 2 region of the Estate at 10:00 p.m. The victim, Barrister Cyril Adikwu, lost his wife and one of his in-laws to kidnappers who broke into the estate.

It was gathered that Austine John, the victim’s neighbor, said that the kidnappers broke into the lawyer’s home, started shooting, and carried away his wife and in-law, while the Barrister managed to flee.

“It all began at around 10:00.” Gunshots were heard out of nowhere, and we realized right once that something was amiss. I hurried outside to confirm that my gate was securely shut.

“The Estate’s management was notified when we heard a gunshot in the barrister’s home, and they moved swiftly to address the situation. Soon after, soldiers arrived and began firing as well, but not before the barrister’s wife and one of his in-laws had been abducted. We had a terrible time sleeping through the night because we were afraid the kidnappers might return. Please, President Tinubu, assist Nigerians in putting a stop to this heinous act of kidnapping.”

Sunday Times Investigation showed that Bwari, Kubuwa, Kuje, Life camp, Kurudu, Lugbe, Sauka, Gwagwa, Durumi village, Mpape, Dede are ‘axis of evil’ and should be traded with caution while on these routes.

According to the investigation, some residents of these areas are planning on relocation to other places on account of this rising menace.

In another development, the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, has however waded into the ugly situation by barring members of the security agencies under the Ministry of Interior like customs, civil defence , prisons and immigrations from wearing camouflage uniforms, after it was identified that criminal elements have been leveraging appearing in camouflage uniforms to perpetrate evil.