Kuchibuyi, a community in Bwari Local Government Area, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has had its share of kidnappings over the years. Some residents have been killed, and some have fled the homes they used to know.

Also stemming from these recurring kidnappings is the fear of the unknown, the anxiety that makes residents look over their shoulders.

“Many of us have abandoned our homes, many are squatting with friends, and each time you contemplate returning to the homes you abandoned, you will hear that another kidnapping incident has happened,” a resident who does not want to be named told FIJ.

“It’s almost like every two weeks, kidnappers come here. The spate of insecurity here is alarming. Lagos is even more secure than this place we call the federal capital of Nigeria, where kidnappers can boldly kidnap you inside your house.”

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NO POLICE POSTING

Although the community leaders are trying hard to ensure security in Kuchibuyi, their efforts seem not to have yielded the desired results. FIJ learned that one of the challenges confronting the town is the lack of a strong security presence.

FIJ learned that a resident of the community paid a visit to the FCT commissioner of police on December 29 to request a police posting so as to beef up security.

“They said we needed a police post, but the police commissioner told them that the police were overstretched and they could not promise anything or provide the community with a police post,” said the resident, whose name is withheld for safety reasons.

“You will see private citizens, individuals going with seven policemen, but you cannot give a community with more than 300 residents one police posting with like five or even 10 men.

“If I take N1 million or N2 million to the CP and ask him to give me four officers to go to the village, won’t he grant it? The CP said they should meet the DPO, who also said there was nothing they could do. He said they could go and meet vigilantes and acquire arms through them.”

FIJ understands that it is the commissioner of police’s prerogative to say yes or no to a request for police postings.

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When FIJ contacted the said resident on Thursday, he confirmed that he went to the FCT police commissioner to seek help with the incessant kidnappings in his community.

He said the police cited a lack of sufficient hands as the reason for turning down his request for a police post.

“I visited the commissioner of police seeking a police posting for my community, but he claimed all his officers were unavailable and couldn’t promise a post. He said police officers were not enough,” said the resident.

“But the CP instructed the DPO to include our area in their forest patrols. They did patrol once after my visit on December 29, but we haven’t seen them since Friday night.

He said he contacted the local hunters and got in touch with their leader, hoping he could spare four or five men to be stationed in the community and deter kidnappings.

“When I got to the CP and he communicated his position about the posting request, I called the leader of the hunters about the possibility of mobilising some of them in my community. Maybe this kidnapping in Kuchibuyi community will stop.”

While speaking on the kidnappings, he said two kidnapped residents recently regained their freedom after paying N500,000 as ransom.

“It’s been a week since two kidnapped residents were released after paying ransom. They paid N500,000. When the incident first happened, I notified the police. I often inform the DPO about every kidnapping incident as soon as it happens. But he often complains about the distance and a lack of fuel whenever I request mobilisation. So, I try to provide fuel money whenever they come.”

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SECURITY IS NOT JUST POLICE BUSINESS

Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, told FIJ that security is beyond police business, as community members also have their roles to play.

“Security is not the business of the police alone. Your own security should also be your business. If you are in a community or a place and you don’t tell the police your problem, you don’t identify with security agencies. How will they know that you have a problem? You cannot sit in your house to complain about a problem without telling us,” she said.

When FIJ informed her that someone had notified the commissioner of police about the need for a police post, she said it was not true.

“That is not true. The CP was at Bwari yesterday (Wednesday). There were some communities that experienced kidnapping incidents the day before in Bwari LGA. Not just him, but he was there with other security agents. They visited other communities. They deployed a lot of communities [sic] there.

“This particular community you are referring to, I don’t know, but I will find out if it’s under the FCT, because some communities fall under neighbouring states and not under us.

“But we also advise members of the community to reach out to us. If you don’t reach out to us, we will definitely not know. And it will look like we are not doing anything. If you see a strange movement, tell us.That is you taking care of your security.”

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.