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.
Okezie in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday said, “The police should understand when Nigerians are complaining about insecurity. For instance, a lawyer I know, who just moved to Lokogoma District about two weeks ago was attacked and his wife was almost raped.
“A youth corps member was using a smartphone in the night and hoodlums stabbed her in the neck just to snatch her phone and you say Abuja is safe?”
He added, “I disagree with the IG because I am a victim. I was robbed in the daylight and almost bled to death, but for someone who saved me. When people complain, understand what they are saying and re-organise your strategies.”
Speaking in a similar vein on a radio programme, 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.
Amaechi said the black spots for the one chance robbers include Kubwa Expressway, AYA Roundabout, Area One and Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway to Gwagwalada.

He stated, “I think the IG is giving FCT residents a false sense of security and I feel sad; I blame state authorities. In Abuja, one chance robbery is becoming alarming. I heard of a DSS officer who was almost robbed by one chance robbers along Kubwa Expressway, but luckily, he had his service pistol which he fired and everybody ran away.”
Amaechi, who once worked in the Police Service Commission and the Ministry of Defence, added, “I also learnt about a lady who was stabbed by the robbers while attempting to snatch her money. I know a soldier who lost his life in between the Barracks and Suleja because he had money on him and he was in uniform. He tried to struggle with them and he was stabbed to death.