2014: Year blood rained in Abuja, capital Territory

The whistle is blowing for the exit of 2014. Just like yesterday, it started with high hopes, expectations, fears and anxiety.

And fast enough, the 365 days have crawled slowly to the last point.

A retrospect on the year is what the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would hardly recall in joy. It was a year the nation’s capital bled profusely and would always remember with pains.

Abuja Metro’s flashback on the journey of the year brings back the bitter reality of what a year should really not be next time. It has been an interesting year for the wrong reasons. While major political events dominated the landscape during the period under review, insecurity too assumed a worrisome dimension. Beyond three major bomb blasts that rocked strategic places in the territory, there were other under-reported criminal activities in the territory.

Similarly, the FCT administration, led by Senator Bala Mohammed made some progress and blunders during the year. Although Senator Mohammed was often distracted and indecisive regarding his botched gubernatorial ambition in Bauchi State, history will be fair to him as one of the few ministers in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet that performed fairly well.

Insecurity and bomb blasts

Prior to the first bomb blast that went off in Abuja on October 1, 2010 at the Eagles Square, Nigerians ‎only had a faint knowledge about how bomb blasts kill people in many troubled African countries and in the Middle East. Since that ugly October 1 incident, there have been series of other bomb blasts in Nigeria. In 2014, Abuja residents had a bitter taste of what folks in core northern states where Boko Haram has wrecked havoc, grapple with every day.

On March 15, the Nigeria Immigration bloody recruitment held in the city like in some other cities in the nation. The Abuja stadium venue also recorded deaths in stampede from the exercise and about eight died in the FCT centre while over 40 were seriouslt injured and ended up in hospitals. The day, apart from the deaths  was a terrible one for the city of Abuja as all activities were held up that Saturday, especially places close to the stadium as the over 100,000 young people that took part in the test in the city together with vehicles that brought them held the city hostage in traffic jam.

On April 14, at about 6:45am, two bombs exploded at a crowded bus station in Nyanya, 8km to the city centre, killing, at least, 88 people and injuring over 200. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the bombing six days after it occurred. Explosives hidden inside vehicles detonated during early morning rush hour. After the initial blast, further explosions occurred as fuel tanks in nearby vehicles ignited.

According to official figures released by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 71 people were killed and 124 injured. By April 15, the death toll had increased to 75. On  April 18, the death toll had increased to 88, with more than 200 reported injured.

In less than two weeks after the April 14 bombing, another bomb blast ripped through Nyanya again, just few meters away from the bus station where the first attack occurred. About 16 people were confirmed dead in the blast, while several others were injured.

‎On June 25, a well-coordinated bomb blast occurred at the Emab Plaza, one of the biggest and busies malls in heart of Abuja. The blast, which went off at 3:57 pm, triggered a big bang that set the massive shopping mall on fire. The number of casualties from the explosion stood at 24.

Although the city has witnessed relative peace since the three bomb blasts occurred during the second and third quarters of 2014, but it lived rumours of possible terrorist attacks there after. The rumours many times forced major markets and shopping malls to shut down by the assistance of security agents in Abuja. Major roads leading to strategic government institutions have been completely cordoned off since the blast and the apprehension has not abated.

SSS jail break

On Sunday, March 31, residents of the FCT were bombarded with sporadic gunshots that could only be compared to what is witnessed in war-ravaged areas. The gunshots emanated from the headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS), where inmates believed to be members of Boko Haram allegedly launched a daring attempt to escape from the facility.

According to the DSS Deputy Director in charge of Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, there were 21 casualties in the attempted jail break.‎ She said two service personnel also received serious injuries. Three other detainees who received gunshot injuries also died.

Although many Nigerians did not buy into her explanation, Ogar said inmates at the SSS detention facility overpowered guards and briefly took over the SSS headquarters. She said several detainees were freed until the army was called in to quell the insurrection.

Political rallies and events

It is election season and as expected, political gladiators are working round the clock, trying to sell their manifesto to the electorate. Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power played host to significant political rallies, conventions, campaigns, declarations and protests.

The 2015 presidential flag-bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former vice president of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and President Goodluck Jonathan all had their presidential declarations in Abuja. As expected, social activities were suspended in and around the Eagles Square during the declarations of President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC had their conventions in Abuja where heavyweight party chieftains were in attendance. So many protests equally marred activities in Abuja. The Bring Back Our Girls campaign group and its coalition members staged series of protests in Abuja, calling on government to secure the release of over 230 Chibok secondary school girls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamic group.

Clampdown on aliens, prostitutes

Women of easy virtues, street urchins and beggars did not find any solace in the FCT in 2014. Although there are still a handful of them lurking around, FCT administration renewed its war to ensure that the city centre was cleared of their activities. Following the series of bomb blasts that rocked major hotspots in the city, the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed ordered a full-scale offensive against beggars and aliens in the territory.

To this end, the minister ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Police to identify and flush out aliens in the territory. Senator Mohammed equally directed all the six area council chairmen in the FCT to begin the registration of all aliens in their area councils. They were required to do so in conjunction with officials of the NIS.

He instructed the council chairmen to continue with their regular security meetings in their areas with the traditional rulers, community leaders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and other stakeholders.

With the general elections expected to be conducted in February next year, more political activities will dominate events in Abuja. Roads will be blocked, traffic will be disrupted, telephone lines will be jammed, ‎security operatives will be on red alert and there will be apprehension in the land. It’s an election season and residents do not expect anything less.