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Ninety days after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Security Council, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, announced the creation of a Joint Task Force (JTF) to combat insecurity, residents continue to face persistent threats.
The JTF, comprising various security agencies, was specifically designed to address armed robbery, kidnapping, and other criminal activities within the FCT. Minister Wike emphasized the importance of border control and the need to shut down illegal motor parks.
Despite these efforts, recent events have highlighted the ongoing challenges. Kidnappers targeted a family of six in Abuja, demanding over N60 million for their release. Tragically, one of the abducted siblings, Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, was murdered, prompting nationwide condemnation and the trending hashtag #Najeebahandhersisters.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar joined the chorus, expressing his sadness and calling for a reevaluation of the security architecture in the country.
While Nabeeha's case gained widespread attention, residents assert that such crimes have become commonplace, with the situation escalating. On Monday, kidnappers in Sagwari Layout Estate Dutse, Abuja, reportedly killed three of their ten victims, raising concerns about the increasing audacity of criminal elements.
Uthman Samad, an Abuja-based journalist, urged action from Governor Wike, emphasizing the severity of the situation: "The rate of kidnappings in communities around the law school is not funny anymore." Residents, like Kadiri Kenna of Karimo, express a growing sense of insecurity, noting that kidnapping is no longer confined to specific areas, with concerns even within one's own home.
