The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday cleared forests and plantations in Abuja suspected to be hideouts for kidnappers, following a recent abduction attempt in Kpaduma and Kobi villages that claimed the life of a vigilante officer.
Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the clearance was part of ongoing efforts to deny criminals ungoverned spaces within the territory. “About a week ago, there was a reported case of kidnapping, and the suspects were traced to this area. That is why we are here this morning to ensure all the trees are brought down,” he stated.Galadima added that community leaders supported the exercise, stressing that the villages had also been victims of kidnappers and were not demanding compensation for the loss of economic trees.
Also speaking, Dr. Peter Olumiji, Secretary of the Command and Control Centre, who represented the Director of FCTA Security Services, confirmed that the September 15 kidnapping attempt was foiled, though one vigilante died in the operation.
He described the cleared forest as a known transit route for criminals linking Karu, Jikwoyi, Orozo, and Kurudu, and disclosed that the Administration would establish a 24-hour police post in the area, install solar-powered streetlights, deploy surveillance drones, and strengthen intelligence gathering to tackle insecurity.
