The first few results of any search for news reports about Kubwa, an Abuja suburb, will be about kidnapping incidents and bandit attacks. For the past few years, Kubwa residents have been living in constant fear as many are at the hands of “unknown gunmen” who continue to kidnap residents in exchange for ransom while killing and injuring others. Residents are terrified that they will be the next victim. This report, which is based on a resident’s account, paints a bleak picture of life in Kubwa.

It’s been six months since Aaron Okure (real name withheld), an Abuja resident, abandoned his house in Kubwa. He fled to another area with his family after gun-wielding men suspected to be kidnappers broke into his home in June. Although the gunmen were stopped by local security operatives before they could carry out their nefarious plans at Okure’s home, the trauma of the experience lingers in his mind.

Okure told FIJ that the number of kidnappings in the area is increasing rather than decreasing, and he talked about the growing dread and discontent among the locals as well as how his experience of being nearly kidnapped and having numerous friends and neighbours taken away has traumatised him to this day.

READ ALSO: Abuja Residents Beefed Up Security After Kidnap, but Gunmen Struck Again Without Resistance

‘THE KIDNAPPERS KEEP COMING’

“We left on that day in June when the gunmen broke down my fence, banged my door and almost kidnapped us. We didn’t go back there,” said Okure.

He told FIJ that kidnappers kidnapped another resident known as Charles on December 2, 2023, just about 500 metres away from where he (Okure) used to live. Although the kidnappers released Charles on December 6, he had to buy his freedom with millions of naira as ransom.

“They released him on that Wednesday, and he paid a ransom to them. The guy was in the hospital. You should have seen his two legs. Apart from the fact that they were swollen, it was like they used a razor blade to cut the feet.

“The guy said they trekked for up to five hours before they got to where they were going. And what helped him more was that he speaks Hausa. That was why the release was quick. They had to use a bike guy to drop the ransom for these people. It was the bike guy that brought the ransom that they used to convey him back.”

KIDNAPPED RESIDENTS HELD FOR MONTHS

Okure said a kidnapped resident had been in the kidnappers’ den for three months despite that his family had spent close to N12 million.

“This person’s family and friends have been negotiating for the past three months. They have spent up to N12 million. They said the man was still alive because the kidnappers allowed them to speak with him.”

“In March, they went to Grow Home Estate, where they kidnapped nine people. One of them has not been released till today. The family does not know whether he’s dead or still alive. They have not heard anything about him.”

“I don’t know how these kidnappers have been coming since 2020. I have lost count of the number of kidnapped people in that axis. And these guys keep coming; they keep invading this area.”

‘EVERYBODY IS PACKING OUT’

According to Okure, the gunmen did not shoot when they went to Charles’ house to kidnap him. He said this was to avoid attracting other neighbours and local security agencies.

He said the gunmen only brought out their guns after gaining entry to Charles’ house.

“I learned that Charles is not planning to go back to his house because of the incident,” revealed Okure.

“Everybody is just packing out of the house they built, out of the area they have always called home.”

‘GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CARE’

As deduced from Okure’s account, the worst part of the recurring kidnapping cases in Kubwa is how close the community is to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

The Aso Rock Presidential Villa is the workplace and official residence of the President of Nigeria.

FIJ’s search on Google maps revealed travel times between Kubwa and the Villa range from 33 to 51 minutes.

However, Okure told FIJ that, in the absence of bad road networks, the distance between Kubwa and the presidential villa’s location would be less than 25 minutes.

“This place is quite close to Aso Rock. If you remove the bad road, it is less than 25 minutes to the presidential villa, yet kidnappers keep operating. I’m telling you how close these places are to each other, because it’s frightening how it keeps happening over and over.”

For Okure, this speaks to the government’s inaction, indifference and disregard for the safety of residents confronted by rising kidnapping incidents at Kubwa.

‘I’VE LOST COUNT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED’

While recounting some of those who have been kidnapped, Okure said, “In 2020, a naval officer’s wife was kidnapped. This lady died in August because of trauma. In 2021, one chief and the brother were kidnapped.

“In 2022, it was the chief of where I was staying. This year, it was my house. This same 2023, residents of Grow Home Estate were also kidnapped; this estate has been attacked at least twice this year.

“In October 2023, it was Wale, a young guy who graduated from University of Ibadan (UI) with a first-class degree. He died afterwards. Wale’s neighbour was also kidnapped; he paid N7 million as ransom before he was released.

“The same October, five days after Wale’s death, they went to one Solomon’s house. They kidnapped him. In November, they went back to that Grow Home Estate and kidnapped one Austin, who is now dead.”

‘THE KIDNAPPERS MAY HAVE INFORMANTS AMONG US’

Okure further revealed that he had reasons to believe that the kidnappers have informants in Kubwa, considering their mode of operation.

“For these people to keep coming back, definitely they have informants. They have insiders in the area,” he told FIJ.

“The day they kidnapped a chief last year, soldiers came with more than seven armoured tanks and Hilux vehicles. Immediately the soldiers came to that place, all of a sudden, a call came in.

“The kidnappers called the second in command of the community. The kidnappers said, ‘You people went and brought soldiers, right? You will not see your chief.’ Which means somebody must have fed them with information.”

He mentioned that the Department of State Security (DSS) officers picked up a guy named Shehu sometime in August. He said after the officers ransacked Shehu’s house and took him along, the man had not returned since then.

“No information about his whereabouts. No information even on why he was picked. And the kidnappings have not stopped as well,” disclosed Okure.

‘PEOPLE SLEEP WITH ONE EYE’

FIJ gathered that fear keeps many in Kubwa awake at night. Not knowing when the next kidnapping might happen, residents who cannot afford to leave are even scared to sleep. 

“Every night now, people just sleep with one eye open and one eye closed. No one knows when and who will be next.

“In fact, it seems the kidnappers are using Kubwa to test run the city ahead of when they will attack on a full scale. Before you know it, Abuja will be overrun by these kidnappers.”

‘THEY OPERATE WITHOUT FEAR’

Okure disclosed that the kidnappers are not even afraid of using their own phones to contact families of the abductees to demand ransom.

“These kidnappers were using their phone numbers, their phones to communicate. Someone was negotiating the ransom that was demanded on behalf of his kidnapped friend. The kidnappers would call this person, and when he would call them back, a woman would pick and tell the person his husband was not around.

“At some point, a man who seemed like the head of the kidnappers said people should pay ransom quickly because they were going back to their country for Salah celebration.

“Even this Charles that was kidnapped, they did not use his phone for negotiation. They (the kidnappers) were using their own phone. Just imagine the audacity, because they know that nobody will come for them. Nobody will come after them.”

READ ALSO: Gunmen Who Appeared Like Armed Robbers Kidnap 15 Residents of Abuja Estate

‘ABUJA IS NOT SAFE AND SECURITY OPERATIVES DON’T CARE’

“Abuja is not safe. This is the one I know now. I have this information now because it’s within my area. Other people definitely have similar experiences,” Okure told FIJ.

He claimed that despite being aware of the kidnappings, neither the police nor local security operatives have been able to stop them.

“When the gunmen broke into my house back then, I reported to the police, but they never even came to my house. They did not come to the scene to check. I was spending my money going to their station. I had to stop afterwards,” he said.

Okure explained that the trauma of living in a town where kidnappings occur at least once a month never goes away. Every loud sound such as the slamming of doors, according to Okure, triggers the trauma.

“I am still suffering from the trauma. If you slam the door with force, I always tremble and get shocked.

“Till now, I am still looking for a better accommodation. I am neither here nor there. Having to ensure my children remain enrolled in school amid this insecurity is scary.”

Abimbola Abatta is a reporter with FIJ writing reports in partnership with Report for the World which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.