By Ken Afor
As fears mount over the increasing spate of kidnappings and other issues of insecurity in Abuja, a security analyst and lawyer, Mr Bulama Bukarti, has warned that Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja is rapidly transforming into one of the most alarming cities globally due to the escalating incidents of kidnapping, one-chance robberies, and various criminal activities.
Bukarti who is a senior analyst at the e said this in an interview on Channels Television on Monday. The Human rights lawyer added that in major intersections in the city, armed thieves now disguise themselves as taxi operators in an unprecedented manner.
He said: “In major junctions in Abuja, criminals and armed robbers masquerading as taxi drivers maim and rob Nigerians in a way that we have not seen before.”
“Abuja is becoming one of the scariest Federal Capital cities in the world,” he added.
According to Bukarti, the criminal activities unfolding in Abuja are indicative of the broader situation occurring throughout Nigeria.
He submitted:“Over 9,700 people were killed last year in 2023 across Nigerians. Abuja cannot be immune to that because as long as you leave insecurity to fester and flourish across Nigeria, then, it will find its way to Abuja.”
Bukarti’s analysis revealed that extremist organizations with a propensity for violence have infiltrated Abuja, originating from the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions. Additionally, certain groups have established their operations in 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,” he added.
The analyst highlighted that this unattractive pattern will deter investors and dissuade diplomats from residing in the country’s capital, consequently negatively impacting Nigeria’s global security rating.
He emphasized the need for security agencies to implement continuous security measures in Abuja and various regions across the nation.
“The way to secure Abuja is to take the fight to the bandits and terrorists in other parts of the country,” he advised.
TheNewDiplomat recalls that on January 3, 2024, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar and his six children were abducted by bandits in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Among the six children of Alhaji Al-Kadriyar, Nabeeha, a student in her final year studying biological science at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was murdered by the abductors for not being able to raise a ransom of N60 million.
