By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Security experts have identified prevailing Criminal activities in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, major security threat to lives and property in the Territory.
The National Coordinator, Counter Terrorism Center, Office Of The National Security Adviser (NSA), Rear admiral Yaminu Ehinomen
Momoh Musa (rtd), disclosed this at the weekend, during the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Award Night, organised by Abuja chapter of American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) International, in Abuja.
In his keynote address on the topic: reflecting on 2023: A retrospective view of evolving threats landscape in Nigeria, Musa revealed that FCT is also grappling with its fair share of insecurity despite being the seat of government.
He noted that the outer suburbs of FCT can be prone to varying levels of crimes with kidnappings and “One Chance” robberies as the most prevalent.
“One Chance is a slang for a situation were armed robbers pretending to be commercial cab drivers/fellow passengers pick other unsuspecting passengers, rob them of all their valuables and most times push them violently out of the moving vehicle.”
“One Chance robberies, sometimes involving dangerous weapons such as knives and firearms, have been on the increase in recent months and has spread from the outer suburbs to more central and metropolitan areas of the Capital City. ”
“Additionally, the City has also experienced cases of kidnap for ransom and risk of terrorism like the Kuje Prison break in July 2022”, he stated.
Meanwhile, the Security expert acknowledged the government efforts towards tackling insecurity in Nigeria, and stated that the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies have sustained offensive actions against criminal groups while enhancing intelligence gathering mechanisms to address the security challenges.
“The Federal and States Government have continued to display the political will to combat the threats posed by criminal groups across Nigeria, he emphasized.
However, with the realization that military approach alone will not defeat the various forms of violent extremist groups, Government has reviewed its approach and since 2015, its policy and strategic frameworks have been shaped by a whole of government and whole of society approaches while combining hard and soft powers, that is kinetic and non-kinetic measures, he said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of the Abuja chapter of ASIS, Edward Orim stressed that criminal activities can only be tackled through collective participation of the strategic stakeholders.
Orim, who has returned as the 2024 chairman alongside some executives, hinted that the Abuja chapter would leverage on the success of 2023, and continue with its relationship with FCT Administration in developing policies that will strengthen security architecture of the territory.
He said, “Abuja chapter of ASIS International in 2024 will be leveraging on the success of 2023, to work with FCT Administration to develop policies that will enable the government win its fight against terrorism and other related crimes.”
“We are also working with neighbouring states on how best to reach the grass roots as our members are also in those states, we have been working with NGOs and other bodies in area of training and retraining to address the security challenges.”
“We need all stakeholders involvement to win the fight against all manner of crimes in the chapter.”
“We are always making efforts to work with the office of National Security Adviser to draw measures that create more awareness and measures .”
Furthermore, an awardee who is the Secretary, FCT Security Command and Control Centre, Dr. Peter Olumuji, who received an award disclosed that it was in recognition of the commitment of the FCT administration to security issues.
He said, ” The award is a recognition of the good work the Administration has been doing, which I’m part of it. The award will spur us to do more of the good. I will continue with the enforcement against illegal activities”.
