A security expert, Bulama Bukarti has warned that the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja is evolving into one of the frightening cities, plagued by kidnappers, ‘one-chance’ robbers, and various criminals wreaking havoc on innocent citizens.
Bukarti shared his concerns on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Monday, January 15, monitored by The Explainer.
“In major junctions in Abuja, criminals and armed robbers posing as taxi drivers maim and rob Nigerians in unprecedented ways. Abuja is becoming one of the scariest federal capital cities globally,” Bukarti stated.
According to him,recent events, such as the abduction of six siblings and their father in the Bwari Area Council on January 3, 2024, have fueled public outrage.
The gunmen reportedly killed one of the sisters, Nabeehah, when her parents couldn’t meet the N60 million ransom deadline.
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Bukarti emphasized that Abuja’s challenges reflect the broader insecurity issues across Nigeria, citing over 9,700 deaths in 2023.
He noted that Abuja, if left unprotected, would inevitably be affected by the escalating insecurity.
The security expert highlighted intelligence indicating the infiltration of violent terrorist groups from the North-East, North-West, and North-Central into Abuja. He stated that some operate from border states like Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa.
“Over 200 people were either killed or abducted in Abuja in the last three months of 2023,” said Bukarti, expressing concern about the potential impact on investors, diplomats, and Nigeria’s global security rating.
He urged security agencies to take “sustained security action” not only in Abuja but also in other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the FCT Commissioner for Public Complaints, Dalhatu Ezekiel, called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Abuja due to rising insecurity, kidnappings, and attacks on residents.
The Explainer has reported abductions in the Bwari area council, including an incident on January 5, where gunmen kidnapped seven individuals and shot two policemen in the Zuma 1 area of Bwari.
