Palpable fear has gripped residents of Tunga Maje village,
near Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja following the invasion and
abduction of scores at the Hilltop Hotel lodge located in the area.
Unknown gunmen on Thursday, stormed the hotel premises and
abducted Hon. Friday Sani Makama, Prince Frederick Adejoh and others yet to be
identified.
Hon Makama was a former lawmaker in the Kogi State House of
Assembly who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the
ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general
elections.
He was abducted alongside Prince Adejoh who is currently the Oma Onu Aya of Igala land.
It was gathered that the suspected kidnappers invaded the
area, shooting sporadically to scare security guards away before whisking the
victims away to an unknown destination.
The incident disrupted daily economic activities in the area
as residents were plunged into unusual tension over more attacks.
A motor spare parts dealer in Zuba Market who identified
himself simply as Kelechi,told our correspondent that some residents
living near the hotel have deserted the area for a safer place.
“Things we use to hear from a very far place have gradually
come to us here in FCT. According to what we heard, the gunmen were heavily
armed with sophisticated weapons.
“If they can attack the hotel with the kind of security they
have there, then what do you think would happen to the common man? These
criminals don’t care whether you are rich or poor. They attack everybody.
“We heard that some workers who are just hustling to get
what to eat were also abducted. So who is safe? We are all in.”
Another resident of FCT, Mr Aruna Omoha lamented the
security situation in the nation’s capital, revealing that the number of
unreported cases supersede the ones reported.
“In FCT, criminals are silently killing residents on a daily
basis without the knowledge of the media and even the security agencies. Most
times, when the assailants abduct a resident, they would warn the family
members not to involve the police or the media.
“Due to fear of the victim being killed, the family members
would not report the case and that is how the ransom will be paid and anything
on the contrary, the victim will be killed”, he said.
The Tunga Maje and the Kaduna-Abuja highway has been a den
for kidnappers and hoodlums who usually move into the city at will launch
mayhem on innocent residents.
There have been series of attacks in several parts of the
city by criminal elements who migrated from the neighbouring states like Niger,
Kaduna States and others where banditry is currently surging.
A security personnel who pleaded not to be mentioned in
print, expressed fear over possible invasion of the city by the Boko Haram
insurgents.
“What we can’t tell is how these elements get into the city
despite the level of tight security in many parts of the territory.
“It is my fear that the Boko Haram may also gain entrance
into the city like they did in Niger. Some of the places they captured in Niger
State are not far from the FCT. We all have to be vigilant”, he said.
Recall that on May 21, this year, the Nigeria Police Force
alerted the general public of possible attacks by Boko Haram terrorists and
other criminal elements in the cities of Abuja and Jos, Plateau State.
The alert was contained in a letter addressed to the
Commissioners of Police and the Command Headquarters of the FCT/Plateau State
and signed by Ag. CP Idowu Owhunwa, Principal Staff Officer to the Acting
Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.
The letter said, “Intelligence report at the disposal of the
Inspector-General of Police has uncovered plan by Boko Haram Terrorists to
attack major cities in the country, particularly in Jos, Plateau State and the
FCT, Abuja,” it stated.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command,
ASP Mariam Yusuf confirmed the latest development.
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