By correspondent in Minna.
Residents of Minna, the capital of Niger State in North Central Nigeria, have raised concerns over the increase in crime and criminal activities.
Expressing their frustrations to our correspondent in Minna on Sunday, residents lamented that they can no longer sleep with both eyes closed due to the rampant criminal activity.
They expressed dismay that criminals now operate day and night with dangerous weapons, dispossessing them of valuables, including cash, mobile phones, laptops, and jewelry.
Our correspondent reports that the latest victim of such attacks is the spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, DSC Ibrahim Rabiu Muti. He said he was attacked on his way home after work on Friday.
The victim, who spoke with journalists in a telephone interview in Minna said that he was attacked by criminals around 8 p.m. near the Federal Housing Estate in Gbeganu, Chanchaga Local Government Area (Minna metropolis) and stabbed twice in the stomach.
Narrating his ordeal further, Muti explained that he was traveling home with a tricycle driver (Kekenapep) when suddenly two individuals, disguised as passengers, emerged from a nearby bush and flagged the tricycle to a halt.
Muti stated that he was ordered to surrender all his belongings, adding that while he was trying to comprehend the situation, the criminals produced a pencil knife and other dangerous weapons.
According to him, the criminals used these weapons to inflict injuries on him and the other passengers in the tricycle.
The victim pointed out that in the frightening circumstances, he lost his personal belongings to the criminals.
Findings by our correspondent indicate that areas such as Kpakungu, Shiroro/David Mark Road, Mobil, Obasanjo Shopping Complex, Bosso Road, and Maitumbi/Old Market Road have become increasingly dangerous, allowing criminals to operate both day and night.
Residents, expressing their concerns about the rise in crime, called on the state government to ensure that security agencies fulfill their statutory mandate of protecting lives and property of citizens.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
