Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, there have been over 200 recorded violent attacks spanning all six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory. During this period, at least 87 residents lost their lives, and 176 were kidnapped.
These statistics are derived from Beacon Consulting, a local firm specializing in monitoring security issues, as well as various media reports on incidents of violence, including kidnappings and killings in the FCT. Notably, following the assumption of office by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, on August 16, 2023, there has been an observable increase in violent attacks within the nation’s capital.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is grappling with an alarming surge in insecurity, causing concern among both residents and authorities. Once considered relatively immune to security challenges prevalent in other parts of the country, the capital city is now facing an escalating wave of criminal activities, particularly kidnappings.
According to a 2020 report by SB Morgen, Abuja ranked 11th among locations with frequent abductions, revealing a significant shift in the security landscape. Over the past three years, nearly 50 kidnapping cases involving over 200 individuals have been recorded in Abuja. The severity of the issue becomes more apparent when examining data from January 2021 to June 2023, with approximately 40 recorded cases and 236 victims. Notably, between October and December 2023 alone, there were 13 recorded kidnap incidents, impacting 80 victims.
These incidents are not isolated to specific areas but have occurred in various locations within Abuja, including Gwagwalada Kuje, Lugbe, Pegi, Abaji, Keti, and Kwali. Of concern is that these incidents seem to occur unchallenged by security agencies, allowing criminals to operate with impunity.
The economic toll of rising insecurity is substantial, with confirmed ransom payments totaling N653.7m between 2021 and 2022. Residents and businesses in affected areas bear the brunt of security challenges, significantly impacting daily life and economic activities.
Several notorious incidents over the past seven months include the abduction of seven persons, including six girls, on January 5, 2024, in the Bwari Area Council. The latest incident involved the abduction of the wife and one in-law of lawyer Cyril Adikwu on January 18, 2024, in the Kurudu area of Abuja.
In response to the surge in incidents, Nigerians have called on the Federal Government and security agencies to find a lasting solution. The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, launched the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) in the FCT to curb kidnappings and banditry, particularly in border towns.
The SIS, tasked with patrolling and securing communities in the border areas of the FCT, has started operations, focusing on crisis-prone areas and exits out of the city. The deployment is part of a comprehensive effort to address security concerns in the FCT.
Commander Bennett Igwe highlighted that SIS operatives, stationed in the borders, would move in and out of the FCT to apprehend bandits and insurgents disturbing the peace. The SIS operates under the command of the Inspector-General of Police, with a mission to restore peace and harmony to the FCT.
The nationwide spread of abductions, previously concentrated in the North-East and North-West, emphasizes the need for urgent and resolute action. The comprehensive approach of the police includes immediate intervention and community-oriented policing, as unveiled by Inspector-General Olukayode Egbetokun at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Inspector-General Egbetokun announced the inauguration of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), an elite unit of the Nigeria Police Force, to address the crisis of kidnapping and violent crimes in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Comprising specially trained, well-equipped, and highly mobile officers, the SIS is capable of rapid intervention and effective containment of security breaches, particularly those threatening the FCT suburb.
Operatives of the SIS conducted a show of force in villages and hamlets in the Bwari area of Abuja, where there had been several recent attacks by insurgents. The deployment of the SIS is part of a broader initiative announced in late 2023, with the NPF deploying 40,000 operatives for training, beginning with Katsina and nine other states, including the FCT.
The SIS, drawn from the Police Mobile Force, will not be involved in escort duties, ensuring a focus on intervention in large security occurrences. The squad’s commanders will operate under the command of commissioners of police in their respective states. The deployment of the SIS is aimed at enhancing the security architecture of the nation’s capital.
In a move to strengthen internal security, Inspector-General Egbetokun announced plans to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP escort/guard duties, allowing the force to reclaim its role in the country’s internal security architecture. However, the withdrawal does not intend to strip VIPs legally entitled to police escorts of their security details.
In response to rising insecurity in the FCT, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, directed the Commissioner of Police to establish two new divisional police stations in the Gwagwalada community. Additionally, operational vehicles and communication gadgets will be provided to police stations across the six area councils to enhance the work of security agencies in the territory.
During a security town hall meeting, Minister Wike vowed to chase criminals out of Gwagwalada, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property. The minister addressed the issue of individuals displaced and shanties destroyed, attributing the rise in insecurity to the neglect and marginalization of the poor. Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju criticized the minister for exacerbating desperation and criminal activities by neglecting and displacing disadvantaged individuals.
The ongoing efforts, including the establishment of the SIS and enhanced security measures, reflect a comprehensive approach to address the security challenges in the FCT and ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
