Residents of the Kuchibuyi community in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have expressed concern over the surge in kidnapping incidents that have plagued their area.
It was gathered that the community has witnessed three kidnapping attacks in the year 2023 alone, with the vigilante group successfully thwarting two of them.
Recent reports reveal that a kidnapping incident occurred approximately two weeks ago, leaving residents on edge.
The victim, identified as Abu, was reportedly abducted from his home in the community and released two days later after a ransom payment was made.
Timmy, an Abuja resident, disclosed to PUNCH Metro that the incessant attacks have prompted many community members to abandon their properties and seek refuge in safer areas.
As Abuja residents grapple with the unsettling wave of insecurity, there is a growing call for authorities to take swift and decisive action to address the situation in Kuchibuyi.
Timmy said, “Since 2019, there have been a series of kidnapping attacks in this community. I was one of the victims of these attacks. Just in June, about eight suspected kidnappers fully armed with Ak47 invaded this area at night. I was the only person out of almost nine of these attacks on the community that was not successful.
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“Just about two weeks ago, a friend of mine was kidnapped and was just freed about a few days after paying some ransom. The incident has nearly crippled my friend. He cannot walk as I am talking to you.
“Another Abuja resident said to be named Austin, who was a victim in November, died about a few weeks after these people collected about N11 million as ransom. There was another resident called Wale, a first-class graduate who was killed in October. One chief in the community was also kidnapped.”
Timmy lamented the persistent insecurity in the community, despite the presence of vigilantes. Yusuf Alkali, the community secretary, appealed to the government for support in establishing a security station and supplying a patrol van to enhance safety amidst ongoing kidnapper attacks.
Alkali said, “This has been a very big security challenge in the community. We want the government to come to our aid and provide security men who can support our vigilante men to help us at least tackle these kidnappers. We will also want the government to help us establish a police outpost in the community. There is no security to succeed without proper mobility.
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“If we can have a government with at least a security patrol vehicle or motorcycle that can help our men patrol the community at night, we will be happy. If the government can help us with this, we will be happy. We are not asking for money. All we need are these things we have mentioned.”
Confirming this, Suleiman Ahmed, the leader of the Kuchibuyi vigilante group, emphasized that while the security team was making concerted efforts, the community required the backing of the government to effectively curb incidents of kidnapping in the area.
Ahmed said, “The community is helping us. They pay for security and help put the vigilante group into place. However, we cannot do it alone. We need the government’s help. When the first incident happened, we had the vigilante men but they were not functioning as they are now. But after the first attack, we had to mobilise them more by ensuring that each household contributed money to support them.”
At the time of filing this report, attempts to obtain a statement from Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson for the FCT police, proved unsuccessful, as she did not answer her phone when contacted on Sunday.