Security expert Bulama Bukarti has declared Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, as one of the scariest cities in the world due to the surge in criminal activities, including kidnappings and one-chance robberies.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Bukarti highlighted the alarming situation in major junctions of Abuja where criminals, disguised as taxi drivers, have been assaulting and robbing citizens in unprecedented ways. He expressed deep concern, stating, “Abuja is becoming one of the scariest Federal Capital cities in the world.”
Bukarti linked the deteriorating security situation in Abuja to the overall state of insecurity across Nigeria. With over 9,700 reported deaths in 2023 nationwide, he emphasized that Abuja cannot remain immune to such threats. Intelligence reports indicate the infiltration of violent terrorist groups from the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions into Abuja, with some operating from border states like Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa.
The security expert revealed that in the last three months of 2023, over 200 individuals fell victim to either killings or abductions in Abuja alone. Expressing his concerns about the potential impact on the nation’s global image, Bukarti warned that this trend could drive away investors, discourage diplomats from residing in the capital, and severely damage Nigeria’s security rating internationally.
To address the escalating crisis, Bukarti called on security agencies to take immediate and sustained action, advising, “The way to secure Abuja is to take the fight to the bandits and terrorists in other parts of the country.”
This revelation comes on the heels of a recent abduction case in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja on January 3, 2024, where six siblings and their father were kidnapped. Tragically, one of the sisters, identified as Nabeehah, lost her life after the parents were unable to meet the kidnappers’ N60 million ransom demand. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive security measures to protect the residents of Abuja and restore the city’s reputation on the global stage.
