Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, was designed to be a safe and modern city, but in 2025, it is gripped by fear as kidnappings, armed robberies, and violent attacks continue to rise.
In recent months, a German national was stabbed in broad daylight along Ahmadu Bello Way, while families have been abducted by bandits demanding huge ransoms. Motorcycle-riding gangs terrorise residents in areas like Wuse 2, robbing and stabbing commuters, while arrests in Karu and Apo have done little to stem the tide.
The violence reflects a broader crisis. Banditry, which has claimed over 10,000 lives in northern Nigeria between 2023 and mid-2025, is spilling into the Federal Capital Territory. At the same time, worsening economic hardship, with more than 30 million Nigerians facing food insecurity, has fueled desperation and crime. Cuts to aid programs, corruption, and poorly equipped security forces have only deepened the problem.
Frustrated residents say they no longer trust the system. Some have resorted to mob justice, while others avoid going out early in the morning or late at night. On social media, complaints trend daily, with many lamenting that Abuja now feels less safe than Lagos.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has faced criticism for prioritising road and infrastructure projects over security concerns. Meanwhile, the city’s growing insecurity is discouraging foreign workers and investors, threatening Abuja’s reputation as a secure hub for diplomacy and business.
For many residents, daily life has become a gamble. They lock their doors tighter, adjust their routines, and hope for change. But without real action better policing, poverty reduction, and a crackdown on corruption, Abuja’s promise as a safe, thriving capital is quickly fading.
