Despite Efforts Of Military In Fighting Banditry, Abuja Residents Still Live In Fear

Despite the renewed military onslaught on terrorists and bandits, residents of the federal capital territory live in fear of attacks.

Some of the residents believe there is infiltration of some terrorists into the city waiting to strike.

Others say they have been seeing strange faces around their areas, a development that sends fear down their spines.

The nation’s capital has witnessed dozens of attacks in recent months with villagers paying millions in ransom to free loved ones.

The director, Defence Media Operations, Major General  Musa Danmadami during the biweekly briefing said troops of the Guards Brigade on 13 August 2022, raided terrorist camps in Dei-dei and Gwagwalada.

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The troops arrested eight suspects and recovered five AK47 rifles and three pump action guns, while large quantities of items suspected to be cannabis sativa, where collected along with three machetes, knives among other items.

The Secretary General, International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), Dr Abdullahi Mohammed Jabi called for summary execution of terrorists arrested at crime scenes.

He said residents in Abuja have to be security conscious and report suspicious movement around to security operatives, because there may be infiltration of terrorists trying to launch soft targets or critical infrastructures.

He therefore, called on security agencies to keep close eyes on recreational centres, beer parlors, viewing centres where criminals can hibernate and plan attacks on soft targets.

“There should be increased surveillance like stop and search intermittently on routes leading in and out of the city and area councils. Mind you, following the outbreak in Kuje prison, they have infiltrated the city and they are here with us and they are regrouping looking for opportunity to deal a deadly blow on the government by attacking critical structures that could raise a big alarm at the international community level.

“The security agencies must not allow them to do that, because the aim of terrorists is to create panic, threats and fear and they are already achieving that because of the negligence of some of our security agencies.

“I don’t see any reason why they are being arrested at the scene of crimes and kept in correctional facilities for three months, where they have access to fun and others.

“If a terrorist is arrested at the crime scene or there is adequate information about his involvement, they should execute him. There is no need for investigation, if government is doing that, alot of them will shun the act because they know if caught within the neighbourhood, there will be natural justice on them.”

He however, noted that lack of drastic measures is making the terrorists more emboldened in their activities.

“All terrorist activities is geared towards economic benefits, so that people can no longer have their freedom. We must resist them at this time for them not to take advantage of that window opportunity. People are already living in fear.”