Police Warn Nigerians Against Circulation Of Video Alerting Abuja Residents To Rising Insecurity, Kidnappings In Abuja

CP Haruna G. Garba, the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has made an appeal to Nigerians.

He appealed to Nigerians to stop circulating the 'video and voice' recording of one Mr West Robinson that had gone viral on social media platforms, noting that it is creating panic and apprehension in the populace.

In the video and the voice recording seen by SaharaReporters on Thursday morning, which was titled: "Very Important Security Alert," people are warned that Nigeria’s capital is unsafe.

The producers of the video posted on Facebook on August 31, who go by the name Shortcut Comedians said the spate of kidnapping in the capital city was alarming.

In the video, a voice is overheard telling Nigerians how the nation's capital territory has become unsafe for its inhabitants following a surge in criminal activities.

The speaker lamented that kidnapping has become the order of the day in Abuja city centre.

Giving details on various tactics hoodlums allegedly adopt to inflict pain on Abuja residents, he said: "Here in Abuja, the Road Safety and VIO are not doing anything about it and it is like that in Nigeria until they strike before they will now start checking these guys (referring to taxi drivers in FCT that drive with foreign plate numbers).”

The speaker continued, "Most of the taxi drivers in Area 1; almost all of them are from Borno and what they do is that behind their vehicles they will put foreign plate numbers and in front, they will have Nigeria plate numbers.

“When you enter their vehicle and they rob you or kidnap you, you will not be able to trace the number of that vehicle. These guys run from Area 1 to Berger; from Area 1 to Area 10, they run Lugbe 2, they also run Apo Mechanic Village. So this is what they do the plate number you see behind just watch. If you have not been taking notice, start now. If you go to Area 1, this is what all of them are doing now and I tell you most of them sleep inside their cars.

"If you go to Area 1 between 5 am and 6 am, you will see all of them and also in Area 2 plaza, you will also see them just park their vehicles. They sleep inside; they don't have anywhere they stay so you can't trace them. Let us be careful if you are boarding any cab whether from Lugbe, Kubwa, Berger to Area 10, or from Area 1 to Area 10. Please watch the vehicle very well, make sure you go behind and check if that car has a Nigerian plate number.

"They are using it to rob passengers and they have robbed several Dunamis (church) people when they are going to church on Sunday, especially those that take off early in the morning. Those guys are dangerous, please always make sure that you check the car you enter to make sure they have the Nigerian plate number – both in the front and behind the car."

Telling road safety agencies to be more committed to their job, the speaker said they not only chase people about for their papers.

He lamented, "There is no security anymore in Abuja. Abuja is cast. I tell you, the rate of kidnapping here in Abuja, in the city centre, we are not even talking about the outskirts of the town now.

"Wuse 2 is a dangerous area. If you go to the city gate, if your vehicle breaks down there, abandon it and run - these guys patrol with Okada riders despite having a police post at the city gate. A lot of people have been stabbed and when they attack you, they stab you. They don't even ask you what you have; they just stab you with a knife first before robbing you."

Reacting to the trending video and voice message, the FCT Police Command said security personnel were already clamping down on such vehicles (vehicles with foreign number plates) described by the speaker.

The Command in the statement signed by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh on behalf of the Commissioner, said the command was committed to improving the overall security towards the protection of the lives and property of residents without fear or favour.

"The CP equally encourages the good people of the territory to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines in reporting suspicious activities: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883."