JUST IN: Anxiety As Bandits Set Up Camps In Abuja

“I wonder how these bandits were able to get to such places with arms…”

 

EKOHOTBLOG reports that locals in some rural communities in Abuja have been thrown into panic following reports that fleeing bandits from the North are setting up camps in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

 

Some locals, who spoke to newsmen, disclosed that the bandits have set up camps around Zukpatu, Gadoro, Achimbi, Pesu, Duda, Pani, Gaube, and New Gwombe communities in Kuje Area Council.

EKOHOTBLOG reports that most of the communities share boundaries with Nasarawa State, just as Kuje has over 400 communities not connected with any road network.

 

However, it was gathered that the bandits have since been taking advantage of the rocky hinterlands to establish their bases.

 

Some of the villagers further stated that although the bandits have not started attacking them, they have been warning the locals against exposing their hideouts to security agents.

 

A resident of Gaube, who simply identified himself as Ibrahim, revealed that the setting up of the camps by the bandits had thrown them into panic, adding that the residents, especially, farmers, now went to their farms in fear.

 

“Whenever the bandits come across locals in the farms or streams, they only caution us not to report to security agents their locations,” he said.

Ibrahim added that the bandits sometimes gave money to residents to buy them foodstuff and other items.

 

Also speaking on the incident, a rescued kidnap victim in Pegi axis of Kuje, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further disclosed that the bandits had set up camps at the bases of rocky hills.

 

“Government needs to do something quickly before the situation gets out of hand because of what I saw. I wonder how these criminals were able to get to such places with arms,” he added.

 

A traditional ruler in the FCT, who declined to be named, said the setting up of camps by bandits in some forests in rural communities posed a serious threat to lives and property.

 

The traditional ruler further recalled how bandits attacked commuters and villagers on the Gaube-Kuje road last year, which informed the setting up of a joint task force around the community.

He added, “But today, the task force has left the area and the kidnappers have returned, picking people around Gaube axis.”

The monarch further disclosed that hunters and farmers usually came across the bandits but that they were afraid of exposing them.

He, therefore, appealed to the federal government to take immediate action, while collaborating with traditional rulers in order to tackle insecurity in the territory.

 

The spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, DSP Adeh Josephine, when contacted, asked to be given time to make enquiry about the development.

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