Written all over their faces is the fear caused by prolonged haunting by kidnappers in Kuje that dates far back as 2018.
The communities in Kuje are governed by fear despite housing two security agencies, a division of the Nigerian police and a naval barracks.
In a recent attack on the community that happened on Sunday, May 14, no fewer than 15 persons, including a staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), were abducted by gunmen at the 1,000 Housing Estate along Pegi community in the Kuje Area Council of the FCT, Abuja.
One of the abducted persons is a staff member of the FCT Department of Development Control under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.
“Gunmen abducted 15 persons along the abandoned 14km Pegi Road. Among those kidnapped was one Shuaibu Musa, a worker with the FCTA.
“The kidnappers have not contacted the families of those abducted at the moment, but we are still trying to identify other abducted residents”, the chairman of Pegi Residents Association, Taiwo Aderibigbe revealed.
Kuje, a Kidnapper haven
Kuje is a Local Government Area in the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria. It has an area of 1,644 km². These areas have been faced with security threats, including kidnapping for ransom and criminals’ hideouts.
Many residents have left Pegi and its environment due to the kidnapping incidents on the ‘Bush Road’ as called by the locals and within the estate. ‘Bush Road’ is about a 10-minute drive.
Although, findings show that kidnapping cases have reduced drastically in Pegi but are now rampant in other communities while many happened on ‘Bush Road’.
In April, kidnappers raided seven rural communities in the council and abducted scores of villagers within three weeks. Some of the communities raided within the last three weeks by the kidnappers included Godoji, Shazyi, Kiyi, Gbau, Kusaki, Pavu, Sauka extension as well as Anguwar Gede extension all in Kuje area council.