“People are living in fear”: Catholic Official on Insecurity in Nigeria’s Federal Capital

Abuja, 29 January, 2024 / 4:10 PM

“People are living in fear on a daily basis because of the rise in kidnappings,” the Chairman of the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of Nigeria's Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has said.

In a Monday, January 29 interview with ACI Africa, Sir Joseph Josephat Abaagu described the security challenge in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as “worrisome” with abductions taking place in people’s homes, sometimes in broad daylight. 

“The security situation in Nigeria today is quite worrisome,” Mr Abaagu told ACI Africa, and added, “Most of the people kidnapped in Abuja are taken from their homes.” 

He continued, “The criminals involved in carrying out this crime operate in the night and most of them (have) happened in the outskirts of the city and in some cases they (have) happened even in the daytime.”

In the last couple of months, the Chairman of JDPC of Abuja Archdiocese said, “We have begun to see a resurgence of those ugly trends especially in places that seemed to be safe before; like the FCT, is no longer safe.”

According to Truth Nigeria, “more than 70 persons have been kidnapped and no fewer than three others killed by unidentified gunmen.”

The Truth Nigeria’s January 23 report with the headline, “Nigerian capital under siege by kidnappers and bundits” indicates that on January 17, the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, set up a Special Intervention Squad to tackle terrorism in the FCT.

On January 18, two persons, including the wife of a lawyer, Cyril Adikwu and his in-law were abducted by gunmen who invaded the Nigerian Army Estate in Abuja, the report further indicates.

In the January 29 interview with ACI Africa, the Chairman of JDPC of Abuja Archdiocese urged the Church to continue sensitizing the people about insecurity and the need to reach out to victims of insurgency.

“I urge the Church to continue to preach to her faithful to take all precaution to be able to protect themselves and avoid areas that will expose them to danger,” he said.

Mr. Abaagu went on to highlight some of the actions taken to support those affected by the banditry, saying, “As Justice Development and Peace commission (JDPC) we have responded to some of these cases, reaching out to victims of insurgency and other natural disasters across the country.”

“Last year, we provided some relief materials to victims of flooding in twelve states of the federation and in the recent  killing in Plateau state, JDPC of Abuja Archdiocese was able to send the sum of two million naira (US$2000.00) to the victims of the Christmas eve killings in Plateau State,” he added, referring to the attacks that left over 200 Christians dead.

The JDPC Chairman further said, “This money was sent through the JDPC Pankshim and Jos Archdiocese to help the victims of these horrendous attacks.”

He also urged church leaders to challenge the political leadership of Africa’s most populous nation to “rise to” its constitutional role of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

Mr. Abaagu said, “The Church should also hold the government accountable to provide security for the citizens. Christian leaders should also lend their voices to the call on the government to rise to their responsibility of protecting lives and property of citizens.”

Abah Anthony John contributed in the writing of this story.