- Kidnappers take over the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
- Obi, Atiku express concerns, charge government on immediate actions
- FCT Minister, Wike reads riot acts on kidnappers
On January 9, 2024, six sisters alongside their father were abducted in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
The six sisters, aged from the early teens to 23, were taken hostage in the Abuja suburb of Bwari along with their father Mansoor Al-Kadriyar.
After their abduction, the gunmen later released their father, asking him to go get N60m as ransom for the release of his daughters before Friday, January 12.
Consequently, the hoodlums reportedly killed one of the six girls, Nabeeha, and dumped her body somewhere for her parents to bury.
However, following the reported killing of one of the victims by her abductors, there was an outrage and great sense of concern by Abuja residents and indeed of course many Nigerians.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that Nabeeha, a 400-level student of biological science, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was laid to rest according to Islamic rites on Saturday, January 13.
Others abducted included Nabeeha (500 level, Quantity Surveying), Nadheerah (300 level, Zoology)
The student’s death sparked outrage on X, formerly Twitter, with many users calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining persons in captivity.
The abduction and subsequent killing of one of the sisters is the latest incident of kidnappings that has literally become a daily occurrence in the nation’s capital.
On April 26, 2023 a local government reportedly told Associated Press, AP that at least 29 people were abducted by gunmen in Federal capital territory, Abuja.
According to the report, the gunmen arrived after midnight on Tuesday and rounded up residents in Yewuti village, some who had been attending a local ceremony, said Daniel Ishaku, an aide to the chairman of the Kwali local council.
Narrating further, he said that “they took people from the playground and then went into the houses and took some people. They entered the bush with the people they carried walking on foot,” said Ishaku.
According to source, children were among those kidnapped and some of the hostages managed to escape.
Though the Federal Capital Territory has been having some security challenges including that of kidnapping, the April incident seemed to have opened a flood gate of kidnappings in the Capital Territory in recent time.
Sadly, lately no date passes without reported case of kidnapping in the nation’s capital.
Catalogue of the kidnappings in FCT Abuja
On Thursday, February 1, 2024 bandits reportedly abducted a director of the Federal Housing Authority, Federal Capital Territory (FHA), Aondo Ver, near a military base at Pambara in Bwari Area Council of Abuja.
Our source also revealed that Ver was abducted from his home, about 200 metres from the military base at 12.30 a.m. by gun bearing criminals.
It was gathered that this was happening at the same time the criminals, who abducted seven residents of Kuduru, also in Bwari Area Council in Abuja, placed N290 million ransom to release the hostages.
According to neighbours who confirmed Ver’s abduction, his abductors escaped through the bushes with their victim.
“The attack is still shocking to us. Our estate is very close to the military base here known as ‘camp’ at the entrance of Bwari, and there are also serving and retired military personnel living with us here, yet these bandits were bold enough to attack this place and kidnap Mr Ver,” one of the neighbours said.
A community leader of Kuduru, who did not want to be named, said the bandits had threatened to kill the captives if the N290 million ransom was not paid on time.
Earlier before then, on December 10, 2023 bandits numbering about 15 launched attacks on Gbaupe, a rural village behind ACO Estate Lugbe, along the Abuja Airport Road, where 12 people, including a 9-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, were kidnapped.
A villager told newsmen that the attack took place on Sunday morning
According to him, two of those abducted escaped as they were being arched into the bush behind the village.
One of the men taken away was said to have been dragged out without a shirt or footwear.
Although it was not the first time that criminals attacked Gbaupe, there had never been such a magnitude of kidnapping in the village.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that Men of the local Vigilante were said to have engaged the kidnappers but were overpowered due to superior firepower.
Investigations showed that kidnappers have been having a field day in the axis, which extends between Gbau, Kuje, Gauge, Pegi, Abaji, Keti, and Kwali, unchallenged for more than three years.
Economic, security implications of the kidnappings
With the escalating cases of kidnappings in the nation’s capital, it was revealed that house rents in upscale areas of, Abuja, have surged in recent times, a new report by SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence says.
The report highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria’s capital and its tangible impact on the city’s residents.
According to the report, there is a 10–50 percent increase in rent in upscale areas, driven by residents’ perceptions of enhanced safety. Conversely, rents in suburban areas, most affected by the security crisis, have declined.
At the same time, transportation fares have also spiked by 100-500 percent due to the prevailing crisis. Residents in the FCT are grappling with higher transportation expenses, particularly for intra-city travel.
The popular public transport service ‘Along,’ has become a hotspot for criminal activities, prompting residents to opt for more secure alternatives like Bolt and Uber. However, the surge in fuel prices has made these ride-hailing services relatively expensive.
Economically speaking, the current insecurity has led to a downturn in economic activities, especially in nightlife, such as night markets and recreational spots. Many city workers now prefer to head straight home instead of engaging in late-night activities due to safety concerns. This has led to a reduction of business revenue by 33 percent.
The report also stated that the surge in kidnapping incidents has left Abuja residents fearful for their safety. Incidents like the kidnapping of Mansoor Al-Kadriyar and his daughters in Bwari have highlighted the severity of the situation. Despite paying a ransom, one of his daughters was killed by the kidnappers.
SBM Intelligence reported that between January 2023 and January 2024, 283 individuals were abducted by bandits and kidnappers in Abuja, with areas like Bwari and Kuje being the most affected.
However, offering solution to the security challenges, the report recommended the redesign of the FCT’s political architecture, saying the security crisis results from unclear accountability under the current ministerial system. Introducing a governor or mayor with independent powers could enhance accountability and prompt proactive security measures.
Obi, Atiku react to the kidnappings
The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said that insecurity is worsening in Nigeria, particularly the federal capital Abuja, despite the Bola Tinubu administration’s avowed promise to protect Nigerians.
Peter Obi said this in a statement shared via his verified Facebook page on Tuesday.
He said, “As terror attacks, banditry, kidnappings and violence continue to rage through the country, it is more concerning now with the surge of violence spreading through the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“The recent killings of two abducted young girls in Abuja makes it more depressing and urgent. It is now time for we the leaders, to take all forms of serious measures to tackle the situation.”
The former Anambra governor said it was unfortunate that former President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015, campaigned and won the presidential elections on three items – Security, Economy and Corruption (SEC) – but the situation worsened in all three areas in eight years.
“The present administration, on assuming office, promised to deal decisively with the same situation – Security, Economy and Corruption. Today, however, the situation is getting even worse than ever.
“At the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Lagos in August 2022, the then Vice Presidential Candidate, Sen Kashim Shettima categorically stated that if APC is elected, he as Vice President would be incharge of security, while the President as an expert in economy would handle the economy.
“Nigerians therefore now implore them to fulfil their campaign promises. Even if they do not achieve 100% results, we want to see 100% effort.
“It is now time to stop all forms of foreign trips from people in government, until we deal with the ugly situation facing us at home. No foreign investor or partner will like to invest in Nigeria, with the situation we now find ourselves in.
“We must make sincere efforts to end the spread of violence and insecurity in our nation, in order to make any meaningful progress,” Peter Obi said.
In the same vein,reacting to the recent kidnapping incidents, the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in a tweet on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, wondered why the president would leave the country when kidnappers killed a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay ₦90m ransom.
The former Vice President also mentioned the abduction of two monarchs in Ekiti by suspected herdsmen on Monday, January 29, 2024, to support his argument about the rising spate of insecurity in the country.
He, therefore, advised President Tinubu to step aside if the shoes are too big for him, adding that Nigeria needs a leader who would be available 24/7 to address the country’s “pervasive insecurity and collapsing economy.
“Tinubu is playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity. To imagine that the Commander-in-Chief is on a so-called private visit while kidnappers kill a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay ₦90m ransom and two monarchs in Ekiti, among other regular tragedies besetting Nigerians.
“If the shoes are too big for Emilokan, he should step aside. Nigeria does not need another Tourist-in-Chief. The country needs 24/7 leadership to confront the pervasive insecurity and collapsing economy,” his tweet read.
Government’s reactions
However, the Federal Government has vowed that it will make Abuja tough for the kidnapping rings in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the Federal Government would not condone any form of bandit attack in Abuja.
Wike made this known recently at a town hall meeting he had with residents of the Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that he convened the meeting following increasing reports of kidnapping for ransom and killing in the FCT.
It was also revealed that earlier before the meeting, Wike met with heads of security agencies in the FCT, top officials of the FCT Administration, and Chairmen of the six area councils, where he stated that the administration was aware of the security situation in the territory.
Speaking at the town hall meeting which was held in January, the minister said that President Bola Tinubu had instructed him to provide all that the security agencies would need, adding that it would no longer be business as usual.
Speaking at the meeting, Wike said, “Security is one of the key priorities of Mr. President’s administration. Yesterday, Mr President summoned a high-level security meeting, which includes all the Service Chiefs, the Minister of Defence, and my humble self, because of recent attacks, particularly in Bwari. And so, currently, it is one of the key priorities, that Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda will want to face squarely.
“It is no longer going to be business as usual. Everything has to be done to protect lives and property. Without protection of lives and property, then we have no business in government. My coming here today is to assure you that we are very serious. All those criminals, bandits, enough is enough. We will do everything in our power to make sure that we will not allow this to happen again. That is why just this morning, Mr. President has given me approval, to provide everything required to the security agencies. And just like what Etsu-Bwari and Sarkin-Bwari said, it is not by merely talking, we are serious.
Security agencies will not have any reason to say that they are not equipped; we will provide everything required. I know how big Bwari is, I know that you have boundaries with three states: Niger State, Kaduna State and Nasarawa State. I know because these bandits were chased away from the Northeast, so they are making their way here, we will make it hot for them,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya, disclosed that the Council comprised 16 districts, and over 90 villages and hamlets, adding that the size and difficult terrain of the Council made the security challenges more difficult.
He therefore requested the provision of needed logistics to security agencies in the area, adding that they would require at least a vehicle and 7 motorcycles in each district for effective patrol and surveillance, while also appealing for training and retraining of hunters and villagers, engaged by the Council for their security.
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