Concerned Nigerians have warned the Federal Gov­ernment of the dangers posed by the recent spike in bandits’ attacks in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and its environs.

They noted that an incur­sion into Nigeria’s seat of pow­er by terrorists was certainly something to worry about, and stressed that if not quickly nipped in the bud, the criminals could pull a surprise even on Aso Rock.

The opinion leaders expressed their views in separate inter­views with our correspondent.

Barrister Emeka Iheonu, a La­gos lawyer and public affairs an­alyst, one of those who spoke to Sunday Independent, lamented that there is a threat of terrorism throughout Nigeria, particularly in the Northern and North East­ern areas of the country.

Barrister Iheonu said: “At­tacks have been conducted across the country, including in Abuja. Numerous and several attacks on individuals, groups and security forces have occurred since 2018.

“Recent events unfolding in the FCT confirm many Nigeri­ans’ fears that the threat from Islamist insurgents and other armed groups are now national threats that have reached critical levels.

“The ability of the groups to expand outside their base, even to the nation’s capital means that the authorities need to greatly expand their efforts to protect people.”

Barrister Iheonu lamented that despite huge budgetary allo­cations to the country’s security sector in recent years, the securi­ty forces remain poorly equipped, while corruption scandals con­tinue to emerge.

He stressed: “The security forces have also been implicated in gross human rights abuses, in­cluding arbitrary detention and extrajudicial killings, while re­sponding to security crises across the country, and have repeatedly failed to hold officers responsi­ble for the abuses accountable through the justice system.

“What is the state of the CCT­Vs allegedly installed during Presidents Jonathan and Buhari eras?

“The current FCT Minister is busy demolishing structures instead of ensuring adequate se­curity of the lives and properties of residents.

“The FCT-based National As­sembly members are busy think­ing of their own comfort, rather than discussing and proffering solutions to the rising incidents of insecurity in the FCT.

“The insecurity situation makes a mockery of Nigeria’s security structure comprising the Armed Forces, Police, DSS, and other paramilitary forces.”

Bishop Dr Joseph Ighalo Edoro, a cleric and philanthro­pist, in his reaction, told Sunday Independent that the security situation in the FCT mirrors the totality of insecurity in Nigeria.

According to him, contempo­rary Nigeria is grappling with a high rate of criminality, adding that robberies, kidnapping have become common in Abuja and beyond.

Bishop Edoro stated: “Abuja, however, is core because of its unique position. It is home to high profile individuals, diplo­matic corps, the citadel of the three arms of government, agen­cies and parastatals and a lot of foreign investments.

“This makes Abuja to demand sustainable designed security architecture to protect lives and properties and erase security vulnerability.

“The migration of people from the terror zones, the high rate of unemployment, and the fast dividends and yield from criminal endeavors make Abuja a soft target including its high profile nature.

“The security architecture must consistently be reviewed. Abuja must be secured at all cost. I think for Abuja the government has done well so far. It has to do much more.

“The rate of kidnapping has reduced to an extent, except for other minor misdemeanors. In the entirety of Nigeria they are doing well but must put in extra efforts.

“Nigeria is not a small sized country at all. It is not! Every criminal wants to undo the law seeking loopholes to explore.

“That is why agencies and offi­cers involved should consistently place emphasis on areas of inter­ests engaging more manpower and quasi security groups to com­plement intelligence gathering.”

Also speaking, Prof. John Ebhomien, former World Bank/ International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist, maintained that the increasing insecurity in the country, most especially the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has become worrisome consid­ering the strategic position it occupies as the nation’s capital.

According to Prof Eb­homien,an All Progressives Con­gress (APC) chieftain, “Abuja is the first port of entry by foreign­ers. So, any negative impression on their minds will greatly affect trade and investment.

“No investors or venture capitalists would want to invest in any country where their in­vestments are not secured. The security agencies must wake up from slumber and go back to the drawing board and develop stra­tegic plans for actions.

“They should take actions with military precision as done in civilised climes.

“The Service Chiefs should justify the confidence which Pres­ident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has in them and meet the expectations of Nigerians with a high sense of responsibility.

“The influx of people into the Federal Capital Territory both good, bad and indifference by relevant authorities and the peo­ple contributed to hydra-headed problems of insecurity.

“The insecurity problem is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, it is a global phenomenon.

“So far, so good, though the security agencies have tried their best, they must redouble their efforts to justify the train­ing acquired both in Nigeria and abroad.

“The challenges before the security agencies could be re­solved if they key into the secu­rity agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The recent killing of inno­cent Nigerians and destruction of properties in Plateau state and other parts of our country is un­acceptable.”

Julius Adegunna, a media executive and publisher stated: “I think the insecurity challenge is in almost every part of Nigeria now, North, South, West and the East; every group is battling for peace and love for survival.

“What I think is responsible is the problem caused by politi­cians; from the fall-out of the past administration, and the soft way it is related to kidnappers and criminals.

“This has helped them to mul­tiply and make it look like kid­napping pays. The implications, among other things, include driving away investors within and from outside.

“Where there is no peace, there cannot be progress. Gov­ernments at all levels must make sure that the criminal elements are checkmated and driven away from Nigeria.

“The security agencies must be held responsible for any breach in their spheres of con­trol.”