Cultism, robbery, prostitution rock Abuja community
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He added that experiences of people travel are more terrible.
Another resident, who preferred to be identified only as James said the prevalence of prostitution could fuel crime and violence in the community. He said there are many brothels in the community which attract people of dubious character.
James said until the death of one of the cultists recently, they usually gathered around such brothels till late at night creating nuisance. He said the situation prompted people around the place to organise vigilante groups.
He said despite the effort, there are still cases of burglary and harassment.
“Though I still have six months on my rent but I am looking for accommodation elsewhere. I can’t bear this anymore,” a terrified James said, adding that he is planning on moving out of the community.
The acting chief, Dauda Tanko, said the community’s efforts at curtailing the situation has been unsuccessful, adding that the central vigilante group has only 10 members because people are scared of volunteering for such responsibility.
“They are doing their best in going round the community but they cannot cover everywhere because they are only 10 people in the group,” Istifanus corroborated.
Dauda alleged that police officers have not been co-operative enough in ridding the community of the menace, adding that whenever burglars or cultists were arrested and handed over to the police they are usually released.
“The issue is that when the vigilante members arrest these suspected cultists and take them to the police, the police will start querying them on evidence and before the that you know it they are released,” he said.
He said that the vigilante group members are few so they have been overwhelmed by the challenge of keeping the community safe, adding that in some cases their security reports to the police are not properly used.
“We live here, we know our neighbours well but the challenge is that the vigilante group may call police that they have arrested suspected cultists and if they take them to the station, the police begin to ask how they got to know that they are cultists,” he said.
He said in such cases the suspects are released and are seen in the community making the vigilante group less effective.
One of the residents, Grace Joseph, said insecurity in the area is becoming alarming.
“When you go out you are afraid because thieves might have burgled your house before you return.
“They looted my neighbour’s car in the night recently. This is becoming too much,” she lamented.
She said though there was a time the presence of the vigilante group was felt but for a long time now no one was hearing about them again. “I am not sure they are still working,” she added.
Another resident, Daniel Adele, said people are not safe in the area, adding that if the government did not do something urgently to help the community it might get out of hand.
He said: “This place is too loose; there is no single police post as big as this place is and there are lots of bad boys everywhere and you see cultists clash from time to time. They also burgle people’s houses when they might have gone to work and steal their belongings.”
There are many hot spots in the community known for criminal activities including drinking joints, brothels, guest inns and film houses.
“Like last week, I called the DPO that we have one challenge with a place called Gidan Dirama (film house), it is a meeting place and I told the owner and the landlord to stop. People will come from Masaka to this place, and you won’t believe that they are doing bad things,” Dauda said.
He said a suspected cultist was killed a day after he informed the police about the unacceptable activities at Gidan Dirama, adding that he learnt police invaded the place and made some arrests.
“So from then, no more noise from the place because the police did their job. So we need help all the time. When we report to the police we want to see action, that is what will help us,” he said. He commended the Apo Divisional Police Officer for always responding to their SOS calls.
When contacted, the FCT Police Command spokesman, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, said: “Sometime towards the end of last year, 13 suspected cultists were arrested and a locally made pistol was recovered from a member of the gang. All those arrested were charged to court.”
He said the FCT Commissioner of Police was meeting regularly with Divisional Police Officers to step up security in areas that appear to be vulnerable.