Defence Headquarters reveals plan to end kidnapping in FCT as cases grow
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has announced that the military is collaborating with other security agencies and stakeholders in a move to stamp out kidnapping syndicates operating in the capital, Abuja, and other parts of the country.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, pledged the assurance in the weekly report of the operations of the armed forces in Abuja.
He noted that the armed forces were aware of the rising cases of kidnappings and their effect on the families of those affected, while also highlighting the disturbing situations the menace has created.
To tackle the raging cases of abductions and other criminal activities, he said the troops had increased ground and air surveillance over Abuja and other areas.
He added that technology had been used to detect abduction gang hiding places and enclaves and that operations had been stepped up to find, degrade, and purge them.
“Additionally, troops are synergising with other security services and stakeholders to investigate and gather more intelligence on these kidnapping gangs, particularly around the FCT.
“In the FCT and environs, some of the areas cleared by troops so far include Kawu, Gaba, Deidei, Kubwa Hills, and Ushafa in the FCT, Garam, Jibi, and back of Zuma Rock in Niger State, as well as Gidan Dogo and Kuyeri/Kuyeri Hills in Kaduna State.
“There have also been intensified night patrols in Mpape, Kubwa, Lugbe, Pyakasa, Keti, Gbaupe, Gbaukuchi, and Airport Road, among others,” he said.
In the last three years, Nigeria has been facing the scourge of kidnapping, making it unsafe to travel by road or farm in some places.
The attacks have added to the worries of security agencies that have been fighting a 14-year insurgency in the northeast, deadly farmer-herder and sectarian battles in the north-central, and escalating attacks by a separatist group in the southeastern parts of the country.
