The saying that “ since eneke the bird has learnt to fly without perching, the hunters have also learnt to shoot without missing”, resonates in the ongoing tangos between security operatives and criminals in Abuja.
While criminal elements, who have been operating with shocking impunity in FCT as bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, and one-chance syndicates, constantly change their modus operandi, security agents have also devised techniques to uproot them from their cocoons.
Before now, kidnapping, banditry and other crimes had assumed a dangerous dimension and reoccurring in a manner that questioned the dependability of the public on the security agencies.
The criminals held residents at various rural communities at the jugular, and even mustered the courage of a warrior to challenge security operatives in the city center.
However, the story began to change following the arrivial of Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory last year.
Security experts believe that it was Wike’s defiance and uncompromising stance against insecurity that helped to stem the ugly tide.
It was gathered that the matching orders and logistics support he provided different security agencies also helped in reducing the menace of the criminals which was becoming a national embarrassment.
The most recent assault by a criminal element in the city center, was the alleged “ yahoo boy” who reportedly attempted killing a female victim he had lured into a hotel for ritual purposes.
More worrisome about this case was the revelation that the criminals were ready to discredit the country’s security architecture.
The fact that the location of this crime was a stone’s throw from the FCT office of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) was a clear indication that the criminal were becoming more daring than ever.
This criminal suspect, however, ran out of luck as he was apprehended. The Police later confirmed that the 30-year old suspect, Joseph Efe had been taken into custody.
Inside Abuja learnt that the suspect was arrested on 17th September, 2024, in connection to the alleged kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder of one Olivia Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, a 25-yearold female.
The victim was forcefully and criminally confined to a room at Top View Hotel, Wuse where she was allegedly being programmed for ritual purposes. A viral video footage making rounds showed the victim when she was gagged while her legs and hands were tied with tape.
Kidnappers’ hideouts
Inside Abuja learnt that even with the serious efforts that security agencies have been putting into crime prevention in Abuja, the criminals appear not to have been dissuaded from their nefarious activities.
A few weeks ago, the Police, with the help of credible intelligence, was said to had traced and stormed a hideouts suspected to be a safe haven for kidnappers.
It was a sort of bumper harvest for the Police, as it was reported that many kidnappers were arrested and weapons recovered. Spokesperson of the FCT Police, SP Josephine Adeh who confirmed the raid and the arrests, disclosed that:
“The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the FCT Police Command on 1st October 2024, acting on credible intelligence, trailed and arrested four notorious kidnappers who have been terrorizing the Federal Capital Territory namely: YAU SANI, a.k.a. Baba (an ex-convict), NUHU, a.k.a. Giwa, KABIRU MOHAMMED, and YUSUF HASSAN, at their criminal hideout in Sauka, Abuja living within the general population.
“The suspects confessed to being responsible for series of kidnappings of unsuspecting residents in FCT and its environs, the killing of seven (7) victims in the process.
These gangsters have attacked Dakwa, Dawaki, Aco estate, Dupe Village Zuma rock, Kuchiko village and some villages in Niger and Kaduna.
They also led Police operatives to another hideout in Gauraka Forest, Suleja, Niger State, where they dug out four (4) AK-47 rifles, thirteen (13) AK-47 magazines, one hundred and sixtytwo (162) rounds of 7.6 mm live ammunition.
“The suspects also confessed their intending plans to attack some government institutions and estates within the FCT, which have been proactively prevented by the Command”.
Community security
Of late, Bwari Area Council and environs had been in the spotlight over sundry crimes. That may explain why it seems to be attracting more attention from the government and security agencies.
Inside Abuja learnt that the newly deployed FCT Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, had visited the Bwari/Ushafa Communities to assess the security situation and evaluate ongoing deployments.
The police command confirmed that, “ the visit underscores the Command’s commitment to ensuring peace and security across the FCT, especially in communities facing challenges.
“Disu engaged with traditional rulers, youth groups, and residents, addressing their concerns and emphasizing the police’s dedication to swift and professional responses to threats.
“He highlighted the importance of collaboration with the community, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. The Command has strengthened deployments in key areas of Bwari, focusing on intelligence-driven operations and rapid response units”.