Kidnapping of children has been a regular occurrences in several communities of Abuja, the nation’s capital until recently when the dimension is gradually becoming deadly and the catastrophic effect of the ugly trend is threatening the peace of residents. There are serial recorded cases of the sordid trade and it is spreading like wide fire, making the authorities of government to appear helpless in tackling the menace, headlong.
The rising cases of child theft and kidnapping especially in the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have arose concern of individuals, groups and organisations to question the viability of security in the city that house all the relevant security agencies including foreign diplomatic corps.
For Umar Suleiman, a resident of Kuje, who works in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Abuja, Airport, Saturday November 19, 2016, will forever remain a testimony of indelible sad experience. He was heartbroken and utterly disappointed in the porous security system of the nation’s capital when a case of child theft incident rocked his young family’s household in Kuje area of Abuja. His two-year-old girl child, named Khadija, was reportedly snatched and fled with, by an unknown woman. The little girl had left with a 7-year-old boy to buy Awara, a native milk, sold in the area.
Extensively devastated and desperate to recover his child, Suleiman, father of the stolen girl , had quickly put out a distress call, posting on his Facebook page to allege that the young girl was snatched by an unknown woman, without available information to trace her where about. He had equally placed his mobile phone number that any body with useful information should contact him.
It was narrated that mother of the kidnaped child who it was gathered, is heavily pregnant and billed to deliver in few days, was at home but later felt sick suddenly and had to go to the hospital. That she took her daughter to a neighbour and went to the hospital for urgent medical attention. It was in between the time that the ugly incident happened.
It said the stolen child later decided to go out with one Usman, a 7-year-old boy, moved out of house to buy the milk when the incident occurred. It was gathered from the father of the girl that shortly after, Usman came back crying profusely, explaining that while on their way, a woman approached them and asked for the name of his sister.
“He told her and the woman led them to another lonely path, before suddenly pushing Usman aside and taking Khadija,” Suleiman narrated.
Since the incident occurred, what has become a source of concern for many is that in the foregoing of the ruthless kidnap of the two-year old child, the heavily pregnant mother of the victim was forced into labour due to the rude shock that inflicted her. She was however, reportedly delivered prematurely through Cesarean operation.
Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP Weekend’s investigation on rising cases of child theft and kidnapping in the FCT have shown that residents have been enveloped in palpable fear. No one is sure when the dare devil kidnappers will visit. Many families are worried that the next turn will be on their household. Security agents have appeared overwhelmed by the persistent occurrence of the dastardly act.
It was also observed that walking on the streets of Abuja has become uneasy thing as people often have feelings of anxiety and apprehension. Whether in the night or day, the situation is the same. It is more dangerous in the night as the city is filled with darkness, the roads become lonely and less busy with vehicles. And this is among many reasons why many residents have voluntarily restricted their movement beyond 6pm.
The cases of kidnapping and child snatching are rampant. In the suburbs of the FCT, the insecurity is worse than imagined as it has obviously become a daily occurrence.
Among many cases, it would be recalled that Darka Village in Kuje Area Council was attacked in the early hours of Sunday, November 13, 2016 leaving a 28-year-old man, Zakariyya Nuhu, dead while another was seriously left injured.Six persons were kidnapped during the incident.
Also, a neigbouring village of Huni-Gade was also reported to have come under heavy attack by assailants on Thursday, November 17,2016. This time, four persons were abducted. The list is endless.
Lamenting the level of insecurity in the FCT, a food vendor, Mrs Ugo Obina who operates a mobile restaurant in Wuse area decried the rampant incidents of kidnapping in the city. Also, she expressed strong disapproval over the many cases of armed robbery and car snatching which security agents were yet to contend, insisting that security agencies must act fast to avert the situation.
According to her, doing mobile business of selling food on the streets of the city is risky as there was no assurance of not being attacked by hoodlums. She said, sometimes, the feelings of insecurity will hit her and she will be prompted to imagine whether her food or car will be snatched at gun point, someday.
“The report of cases of child theft and kidnapping in the city are rising everyday. The other day, we heard of the kidnap of a two-year old girl. Apart from that, armed robbery cases are what we hear of everyday. I have seen many people who have lost their cars to hoodlums, at gun point. Sometimes, I feel unsecured because of my mobile business whether they will snatch my food or car. But I believe in God and hoping that security in the city will be enhanced,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that security agencies in the territory have upped their game in serious commitment to totally eradicate criminal activities in the area. He further said so far, ten persons that were kidnapped in the Kuje area council have been rescued.
Bello while briefing newsmen explained that the feat was achieved during joint operation that was carried out by the FCT security agencies. He said security agencies have evolved proactive measures to successfully route out the notorious gang of hoodlums who, he said, specialized in robbery and kidnapping of innocent residents in the FCT.
He said the joint operation comprised of the Police Mobile Force, Operatives of the Command Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Army and the men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Bello further revealed that the kidnaped victims rescued have been handed over to the Gomo of Kuje for immediate rehabilitation. He gave their names as: Fanus Emmanuel (M), Babangida Emmanuel (M), Akimmi Dauda (F), Japhet Kwasu (M), Dorcas Shuaibu (F), Kemu Cheik (F), Hamza Yunusa (M), Umar Godiri (M), Ismaila Yusuf (M) and Abubakar Gomo (M).
The Minister however, assured that all the structures of notorious hoodlums are being dismantled and that the FCT security agencies have set up a surveillance mechanism to prevent operations of such miscreants within the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the territory.
The police commissioner in FCT, CP Mohammed Mustapha has however, assured that the command has massively deployed its men to ensure security. He said the force will not only eradicate kidnapping gut arrest perpetrators of the heinous act and make them to face the law.
