Ogbodo Ozioma Favour
Thieves and burglars operating in Abuja, Nigeria’s nation’s capital may have resolved to demand food only when they attack their victims or break into homes. Africa Health Report can confirm that these thieves due to hardship now go after food.
Sharing his experience, a victim, Mr. Chidex while speaking with Africa Health Report (AHR), said his house at Airport Junction Lugbe, Abuja, was burgled on Saturday, adding that his food was eaten by the robbers, and his gas cylinder was stolen.
“I tried to enter my house on Saturday after work and saw my door was broken, I was surprised and I asked my landlady who was also surprised stating, ‘I didn’t hear any noise’. I noticed they ate my food and carried two of my 4 kilograms cylinders with gas in it.
“Though other people have been experiencing these things and last year my neighbour also complained of the same hungry thief and these have been frequenting this community this is my first experience,
“Now gas cylinder is now sold for N18,500 and I can’t afford it, we need more security in our community, he said”
Findings by our reporter show that there is a new wave of crime in Abuja being occasioned by the current economic hardship across the country. Our findings show also that there are projections that the crime rate in the FCT is likely to spike following the worsening food crisis in the country. The crisis it was gathered has caused hunger and poverty in the country, especially among vulnerable citizens.
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Funds (UNICEF) recent study in 2023.
It is estimated that over 25 million Nigerians are at risk of facing hunger due to food insecurity and extreme poverty.
Attempts to speak with the police in FCT Command were unsuccessful.
