The serene Saburi residential district in DeiDei, Abuja, has become a hotspot for fear and insecurity as residents report an alarming increase in attacks by armed hoodlums since the beginning of January 2025. The gunmen, often masked, have executed multiple raids, leaving a community in distress and with significant losses in valuables and cash.
According to local accounts, these attackers employ a strategy where scavengers, known locally as “Baban Bola,” are sent ahead to survey the area. This reconnaissance is followed by coordinated attacks where the hoodlums strike with precision, targeting specific streets including Ikejani, Osumeayi, Sani Abacha lane, and various parts of Saburi.
The first notable attack this year occurred on the crossover night of December 31, 2024, when residents returning from church services were ambushed. Since then, the frequency of these violent incursions has only escalated, with the latest incident reported on January 25, 2025, around 1:55 am, where gunshots were heard, and a resident was injured.
Residents have shared harrowing experiences of these attacks. One security guard, Sunday Ogbor, described a brutal assault where he was nearly blinded by the attackers who attempted to slit his face. Another resident, Gift Udago, recounted how over 30 armed men invaded his home, breaking windows and doors, and making off with possessions while terrorizing his family and tenants.
Princess Amaka Chijioke, the Women Leader of Saburi, was targeted due to rumors of her recent bank withdrawal. She narrowly escaped with her son after the hoodlums ransacked her home. The pattern of these attacks suggests insiders might be colluding with the bandits, providing them with critical information about residents’ wealth and movements.
The community has taken extreme measures, including setting up three gates to combat kidnapping previously, but now they face armed robbery on a similar scale. The lack of immediate police response has been a point of contention among residents. Despite calls for help, police often arrive too late, or in some cases, claim the area falls outside their jurisdiction, leaving residents to fend for themselves, many now patrolling their streets at night for safety.
The Vice Chairman, Engr. Gerald Aziegbe, and the Chairman of the 4Bedroom Area, Anyanwu Ugonna, have both expressed frustration over the weak police presence and the failure to apprehend any of the perpetrators despite multiple incidents. The involvement of scavengers as spies has led to changes in how refuse is handled within the community to deter such intelligence gathering.
Efforts to secure comments from the Police Public Relations Officer for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command were unsuccessful, highlighting the disconnect between the community’s needs and the response from security forces.
The residents of Saburi are now living in a state of constant vigilance, calling for urgent government intervention to restore peace and security in their neighborhood. This situation not only tests the resilience of the community but also the effectiveness of local law enforcement in safeguarding its citizens.
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