Residents of Kuchibena, a slum located few kilometres from the Life Camp official residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are scared as gunmen suspected to be cultists have unleashed terror on the community, killing at least four people in last one week.
Subsequently, the Police has demanded the demolition of the community.
Residents lament that there has been sporadic killings by these hoodlums in the past two months due to cult clashes.
“The last killing that reportedly shook the village was that of a young man whose body was dismembered, with his head chopped off and hung on a stick by his attackers,” a resident said.
A letter dated April 28, 2021, written to the Director of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and signed by the Galadima Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chinyere Akalaga, revealed that the insecurity in the area had persisted for months.
The division requested for outright demolition of the slum, having identified Sahara Gate Market, Mab-Global Junction, Efab Queen opposite market, Cashew Garden along Kuchibena and the popular Mami market as some of the hotspots for violent crimes in the area.
“Consequent upon intelligence report received from the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Abuja, from the Department of State Security Services on April 21, 2021 pointing Sahara Gate Market, Mab-Global Junction, Efab Queen opposite market, Cashew Garden along Kuchibena and the popular Mami market in the same Kuchibena area among other major black spots in Galadima area in the FCT command, it has become even more expedient that a drastic action be taken by your agency in order to curb the excesses of hoodlums and miscreants that have over time terrorised the peace in and around the neighborhood.
“In view of the above stated facts, it may, therefore, please your authority in the interest of sanity to consider the following as measures for lasting solution; to include outright removal, demolition of illegal structures within the area under review,” the letter read in part.
The division also recommended a joint operation in which the hoodlums could be dislodged from their hideouts.