Security experts have described as hollow, the claims by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was one of the safest cities in the world.
They cited cases of ‘one chance’ robberies, kidnappings and muggings across the FCT, which they said indicated that the police boss was merely giving residents “a false sense of security.”
Following the reported abduction of five persons in separate locations in Abuja on September 14, the IG had argued that a comprehensive analysis of crime statistics of major cities across the world would reveal that Abuja has one of the lowest crime rates and remains indisputably one of the safest capital cities in the world.
But a security analyst, Ben Okezie, who was a robbery victim, dismissed Adamu’s claims, noting that he was stabbed and robbed, adding that he almost lost his life.
He said the police needed to understand the security situation and rejig their operational strategies to contain the situation instead of making false assertions.
He commended the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma for being proactive, but added that he lacked the resources needed to effectively police the city.
Speaking in a similar vein, an Intelligence and Security Consultant, Dr. Nwokolo Amaechi, said one chance robbery was becoming an epidemic in FCT, blaming the situation on the huge number of unemployed youths in the city.