ANALYSIS: How safe is FCT? 27 kidnapped in 2021 already

At least 27 persons have reportedly been kidnapped in the federal capital territory (FCT) in just about six weeks in 2021.

Despite being the seat of power — implying higher security presence, the FCT has been in the news lately for all the negative security reasons, ranging from kidnappings to robbery.

According to media reports reviewed by TheCable, there have been six incidents of kidnapping, with 27 victims — including seven children — taken hostage.

A number of the victims were said to have paid ransoms to secure their release, in what has become a trend exploited by criminals across the country.

A 2020 report by SB Morgen noted that the FCT ranked 11th among the places were abductions have been rampant.

“While it is not in the top 10, Abuja has the 11th highest number of kidnap incidents over the last decade, and there is anecdotal evidence that some of the perpetrators responsible for Kaduna’s high rate of kidnap attempts have extended their operations into the federal capital,” the report said.

The report also said at least $18.84 million was paid as ransoms to kidnappers across the country in 2020.

HOW SAFE IS THE SAFEST PART OF NIGERIA

Although it is arguably the safest part of the country being the capital city where the seat of power is located, there have been growing concerns about how endangered FCT residents have become.

After reviewing daily media reports from January 1, 2021 to February 9, 2021, TheCable found that while no one has been reportedly killed as a result of the security problem in the FCT, three persons have been injured in such attacks.

The first reported case of insecurity in the territory in 2021 was on January 4 when gunmen abducted two wives of Idris Mohammed, an FCT councillor, and three other persons. The incident was said to have occurred just after midnight at their home in Kpakuru village, Gwagwalada. The family was later contacted by kidnappers and asked to pay a sum of N200m as ransom.

Since then, kidnappers have struck on five other occasions, abducting 22 other persons. The most recent case being the kidnapping of one person in Pegi community in Abuja.

The situation has continued to cause fear among Abuja residents, with many taking to social media to lament how difficult it has been to stay out late into the night.

They have also called on the authorities particularly Mohammed Bello, FCT minister, to urgently put measures in place to stop the attacks.

The locations of these abductions were reported as Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Pegi, Abaji, Tungan Maje, and Bwari.

The Trends

TheCable observed a few common trends in the cases mentioned.

• The kidnappers in all cases TheCable studied were in possession of firearms.
•  More than 50 percent of the time, the kidnappers had reached out to the families of the abducted, demanding a ransom for their release.
• All the incidents had occurred under the cover of darkness between 9pm to 1am.
• More than 80 percent of the kidnap cases have occurred in houses of residents, with the kidnappers breaking into their homes.

The police have constantly reiterated their commitment to ensuring the safety of residents in the territory. On January 31, the FCT police command disclosed that it arrested seven suspects for armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism. On February 7 as well, the police said they arrested six suspected kidnappers based on credible intelligence.

Mariam Yusuf, the FCT police spokeswoman, was contacted by TheCable to which she responded with a written statement.

“The Command has deployed covert and overt crime-fighting strategies to strengthen security across the Federal Capital Territory especially areas with cumbersome terrain. In addition, the Command has launched a strategic counter-kidnapping operation to checkmate the emerging security concerns,” the statement said.

“Furthermore, the Command is working closely with sister security agencies, key stakeholders and community leaders to rid the FCT of criminal elements.”