No fewer than five persons, including a lecturer and two teenagers, have been kidnapped in the Federal capital City, FCT, Abuja, in the last 24 hours.
It was learned that the lecturer, Abubakar Alkali of Baze University, Abuja, and two tennegaers who were returning from Quranic lecturer at Wuse zone 6, were abducted early Saturday.
Also kidnapped were one Hanna Azubuike, who was abducted near Habiba Paza, Maitama, and Ummi Ardo who was taken by the kidnappers in front of Blickers Supermarket at Asokoro.
Ardo’s father, who is an Adamawa-based politician, confirmed the abduction of his daughter, saying “my daughter, Ai’shat Umar Ardo (Ummi)), 24, was kidnapped at Blinkers Shopping mall at No. 46 Nkwame Nkruma crescent, Asokoro around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday.
“They put her in an ash Camry and zoomed off. Nothing is heard of her since, and no call is yet received from them. Your prayer is needed. Thank you.”
Spokesman of FCT police command, Anjuguri Manzah, confirmed the abductions but gave no further detail.
Reacting to allegations that the FCT had been taken over by armed robbers, kidnappers and other violent criminals, Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police, declared that the city was safe and secured.
According to him, Abuja remains the city with the lowest crime rate in the world, compared to other capital cities in the world due to the robust security architecture put in place by the police.
In a statement signed by DCP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, the IGP said: “The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, on Monday (yesterday) stated unequivocally that the Federal Capital Territory is safe, secure and not under any form of siege.
“This assertion comes against the backdrop of recent speculations in some sections of the media, particularly the Social Media, of an upsurge in crime rate within and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“While observing that, like other climes across the world, the country has its security challenges, the IGP however notes that a comprehensive analysis of crime statistics on major cities across the world would reveal that Abuja has one of the lowest crime rates and remains indisputably one of the safest capital cities in the world.
“The IGP further observes that the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has a robust anti-crime architecture which is continually rejigged to effectively tackle prevailing and emerging crimes.
“He, however, enjoins all law-abiding citizens and visitors alike to go about their lawful endeavours without any fear or apprehension.”