By Eric Elezuo

The rising spate of criminal invasions, kidnappings and killings in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have become a matter of great concern. The once bubbly city; a conglomeration of ethnicities, global melting point and centre of government is gradually becoming a shadow of its former self with the way unknown gunmen have operated unhindered in the last couple of weeks.

The kidnappers, whose identities have remained unknown, have boldly penetrated residences, market places, highways and even Army barracks to abduct victims with little or no resistance from security agencies, and in scorn of the braggadocio of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The activities of hoodlums in Abuja today could be a reminiscent of the attacks witnessed in Kaduna in 2023 when the state, arguably the nation’s defence capital, became the beehive of high scale criminal activities. Then, installations and establishments of great military and security presence were attacked, personnel either killed or abducted. In one of the attacks at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), two personnel were killed, and one abducted. Till date, no news of the abductee’s whereabouts have been recorded.

For the benefit of doubt, Kaduna is home to First Division, Nigerian Army; Nigerian Defence Academy; Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; Nigerian Air Force Base; Air Force Institute of Technology, AFIT; Ground Training Command; the Army Training Depot in Zaria; the Nigerian Military School in Zaria; Defence Industries Corporation, DICON; Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia; Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology; Command Engineering Depot and Command and Staff College and several other military formations.

Kaduna State is also home to the State Security Service Training Academy, a Police College, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), in Zaria and Borstal Training College, among others.

Stakeholders have said that the proximity of Kaduna to Abuja may have been responsible for the sudden influx of criminal elements in the FCT, and their brazen attacks and operations attributed to lack of administrative attention as the Minister-in-charge has been accused of channeling his energy to matters of less consequence both within and outside the state.

The kidnappers’ free reign in the nation’s seat of power took a new dimension when on January 14, 2024, four bodies of kidnapped were dumped for recovery at Ida, near Ushafa in Bwari Area Council. The four were out of 10 that were kidnapped from their various residences the weekend before in Kubwa/Dutse area of the territory.

Among the bodies were that of a secondary school student and daughter of Ekiti State-born Chief Legal Officer of the National University Commission (NUC), Folorunsho Ariyo, and a 400 level student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar.

Miss Ariyo was abducted along with her mother and three siblings two Sundays before her remains were recovered while Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar was seized with her father and five of her female siblings in the same axis.

The kidnappers, according to family sources, had demanded the sum of N60 million ransom to release members of the Ariyo family, but they could only raise about N5 million.

“Talks were still ongoing and as at last Friday, we were optimistic of a positive outcome until we were contacted to pick up her body,” the family source said.

The teenage girl has since been buried in Dutse Cemetery, Abuja while the other members of the family have remained with their abductors till date.

As for Nabeeha, another source narrated as follows: “On Tuesday 2nd of January around 9:00pm, kidnappers struck and took away a father and her six children (all girls) at Zuma 1 after Bwari FCT before Veritas University.

“The junior brother that was contacted on distressed call died during the attack. The father was released 48hrs after to bring N60m ransom.

“We were contacted last night Friday 12th Jan around 7pm to bring the money and later called around 10:30pm same night telling us they have killed one of the girls and even described the location for us to pick the corpse.

“While were we at the point of picking up the corpse, they called again raising the ransom to N100m insisting that any attempt in delaying the payment will be met with equal treatment. These are the phone numbers being used by the abductors:  07016250005 0912 391 5983.”

Amnesty International has described the situation in Abuja in particular, and Nigeria in general as ‘epidemic of kidnappings’, calling on the Nigerian authorities to stem the tide as a matter of urgency.

In reaction to an avalanche of complaints and criticisms from the general public however, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said through his X account that, “We have been working on it, but we need some info. We will try our best possible to emplace all necessary measures to rescue them unhurt. But we need to get some info pls. Thanks.”

Also speaking, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said the police have already initiated a comprehensive plan of action, noting that the force was diligently coordinating efforts to address and prevent any further occurrence as all hands are on deck to rescue the victims.

An official statement by the Force Headquarters, and signed by Adejobi, noted that the sensitivity of the situation necessitated discretion and as a result, specific details are being kept confidential to avoid compromising ongoing operations.

“The NPF is actively engaging and contacting individuals crucial to the rescue operations and investigation. The objective is not only to bring perpetrators to justice but also to intensify efforts in rescue operations for victims still in captivity,” he said.

In another development, an Abuja resident simply known as Northern Man on X, narrated how he miraculously escaped being kidnapped in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He however, suffered gunshot wound while navigating his escape.

“I made a miraculous escape from kidnappers on Wednesday with a bullet wound, just outside my estate at Lugbe, en route Penthouse and Elsalem estate, at about 10:00.p.m.

“I was blocked by their car on my lane but courageously reversed, and then drove through them while being shot at. Bullets penetrated the door behind the driver and got me on my left bum.

“Let’s exercise extra caution and avoid night movements, please! These deadly guys are all over the city,” he wrote.

Also, three persons were abducted from an estate behind the Nigerian Army Post-Service Housing Scheme in Kurudu Estate in the FCT. This is the latest in the kidnapping scourge that has hit Abuja.

The Director of Army Public Relations Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu confirmed that the incident happened in the estate at about 9.00 p.m. on Thursday, and troops are presently on search and rescue mission.

According to residents of the estate, gunmen fired gunshots before escaping with their victims.

In their reactions, President Bola Tinubu and Wike summoned separate emergency security meetings, where they mandated to go after the kidnappers, and immediately restore order.

While speaking at a townhall meeting on Friday, Wike further read riot acts to the kidnappers, telling them that their time was up. He boasted that the security apparatuses have arrested the informants of the kidnappers, assuring the residents that normalcy is returning to the capital city, and seeking two additional police divisions in the Gwagwalada area immediately.

“The other day, I was in Bwari and next week, I will go to Kwali. Security is one thing the president promised Nigerians, because his job is to protect lives and property. If we can not protect lives and property, then we have no reason to be in government.

“The president has asked me to assure you that he will not abandon you. So, all these criminals, be ready, your time is up. You know if I say I will do something, I will do it. And now that I am here today, if you know you are an informant or even one of the criminals, the end has come for you.

“I and security agencies will follow you to the point that you will not enter Gwagwalada again. Some of the people giving them information, we have arrested them. If they have not arrested you, it does not mean that we will not arrest you tomorrow or even before we leave this place.

“The CP should work out how we can provide two more police divisions in Gwagwalada. We must do this immediately. It is a security matter and must not be bogged down by bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“The president has given me power to buy more vehicles. By next week, we shall give more vehicles to all police stations. We shall give them modern communication gadgets. The president has said he does not want to hear any story of kidnapping in Abuja again and the security agencies have promised to rise to the occasion.

“We are very serious. We are not playing. But we need your support too because security agencies cannot do this work alone. They need information. When you give them information, they will work better.

“It is not also good to go to the radio to raise ransoms. It is a way of encouraging criminals. We know it is not easy when your people are in captivity but we have to avoid raising ransom. It fuels the activities of kidnappers.

“By Monday, the chairman should bring the letter for me to approve the demolition of uncompleted structures where criminals are hibernating. Do not behave like civil servants. Today is Friday, ensure you bring the letter by Monday and I will be happy to approve it,” he stated.

But in a twist, the FCT Police Command confirmed the arrest of a notorious kidnapper, Chinaza Phillip, by the Kaduna State command of the force.

A statement by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said the suspect was arrested on Thursday and handed over to it on Friday.

She said Mr Phillip is currently in police custody in Abuja.

“The FCT Police Command wishes to confirm the arrest of one Chinaza Phillip, a notorious Abuja kidnapper by police operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command on Thursday 18th January 2024.”

“The suspect has been handed over to FCT Police Command today being Friday 19th January 2024, and currently in police custody,” she said.

The arrest of the notorious kidnapper brings relief to FCT residents, who have been living in fear in the recent past following the upsurge of kidnappings in the territory.

Phillip was arrested he and his gang were transporting their victim, one Segun Akinyemi, from Abuja to Kano following a distress call to Kawo Divisional Police Station.

In a follow up to the arrest, the Police, on Saturday, paraded 16 suspects, including Phillip, terrorizing Bwari Area Council and other parts of the country.

Two of the suspects Idris Isiaku and Dahiru Salihu, were arrested by men of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), after the launching of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, to wipe out terrorists in the FCT.

The suspects who said they have been in Bwari and working as farmers and security guards, say they use the opportunity as security guards to monitor the activities of residents, especially the rich ones, and report to their colleagues in the bush before carrying out the kidnapping.

The suspects also revealed that they get paid after such operations.

Parading the suspects in Abuja, Adejobi said the arrest of the suspects comes in response to the pressing need for enhanced security measures in the nation’s capital.

Adejobi said the launch of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the Inspector–General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun at the Force Headquarters comprising highly trained personnel equipped with advanced technology and resources of the force also made it possible for the suspects to arrest the suspect in their various hideouts.

Adejobi maintained that the force would not relent in the fight against crimes and criminality in the country.

The Force PRO said ammunition of all kinds and valuables were recovered during the operations.

He further advised members of the public, especially landlords and caretakers to be wary of who they employ as security guards.

Kidnappings have remained one of the many security challenges facing President Bola Tinubu’s government. Reports say that over 12 persons were killed and 60 kidnapped just one week into the Tinubu presidency.

Respondents told The Boss that Nigerians, especially Abuja residents at this time, live in absolute fear, not knowing what danger lies ahead at any moment.