At least 12 people were killed and 139 others abducted when bandits and robbers attacked some communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the last six months.
This is even as the popular One Chance gangs are fast returning and terrorising commuters on the roads
From April to September, available statistics show that not less than 22 communities, cutting across the six area councils, were attacked with the victims paying N126million as ransom.
Some of the attacked communities included Chida in Kwali Area Council, where 14 people were kidnapped in June, Chitumu in Gwagwalada Area Council, where two people were kidnapped last month, and Kwaku village in Kuje Area Council, where five people were kidnapped in April.
Also in April, the attackers visited Kasada village, Kuje Area Council and kidnapped six people. Thirteen people were also kidnapped in Ggau village, Gaube ward, Kuje Area Council. And in Yewuti village, Kwali Area Council, 29 people were kidnapped.
At 1,000 Housing Estate, Pegi community in Kuje Area Council, 15 people were kidnapped in May, and in Yangoji community, Kwali Area Council, five people were abducted. There were other incidents in other area councils within the period.
Fear grips residents as they abandon villages, send SOS to Wike
Reports also indicate that some some areas in the city centre have also withnessed an increase in attacks.
The situation has thrown many residents into panic, with many of them relocating from one village to another.
Most of the rural farmers can no longer access their farmlands, even when some of the produce is due for harvest.
In Bwari, some locals in remote villages that are prone to attacks, like Tokulo, Gaba, Kawu, Piwoyi, among others, are relocating to Bwari town.
Many villagers in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Kuje and Kwali are also fleeing their homes to safer towns, abandoning their farms.
Some of the residents who spoke with our reporter called on the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike to intervene.
Mr Toyin Ajayi said he had no doubt that the minister, a former governor of Rivers State, would make a change, and pleaded with him to wade into the increasing security concern without further delay.
He said, “I know he knows what to do, and no one can mess around him. He is a no-nonsense man. He should please intervene, it is so serious.’’
One of the residents narrated how a man, identified as Ramos was shot dead on September 10 by suspected armed robbers at Dutse in Bwari Area Council.
When visited the house of the deceased at Fo1 in Kubwa, Abuja on Tuesday, most residents were reluctant to talk about the incident.
However, Ahmed Salihu told our reporter that, “Ramos was returning from a nightclub in a cab when the incident happened. The cab driver was also shot, but he survived. They were both rushed to the hospital, where Ramos was confirmed dead by doctors. The driver is currently nursing severe injuries.”
A security guard at the house, Jibrin Baba, said, “As you can see, the house is empty, his corpse was moved to Adamawa State this morning for burial. If you had come earlier, you would have met his family members. I don’t have much information. I started working here a few weeks ago.”
Daily Trust Saturday reports that a retired primary school teacher, Barnabas Musa and his 6-year-old son were recently abducted by kidnappers at Gumbo village in Kwali Area Council.
Speaking with our reporter, Ishaya Musa, a relative of the victim, said the incident happened two weeks ago.
Musa said the kidnappers later freed the victim after collecting N5million ransom while holding on to his son and asking the family to raise an additional N3million before he was released.
“It was last Thursday that the man was released after the family struggled to raise N5m, including the purchase of foodstuff and drugs. They are now asking the family to raise another N3m before his son would be set free,” he said.
He said the family had to sell some valuable items and borrow some money to raise the N5m ransom, and appealed to security agents to come to the aid of the family in rescuing the victim’s son.
In a similar development, on September 11, robbers numbering 10 stormed Annex Estate in the Chikakore area of Kubwa.