By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
An official of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alhaji Auwalu Rabiu Saleh Wednesday in Abuja lost his Toyota Camry salon car to thieves just as crimes and criminality are now on the increase in Nigeria especially the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The ash colour 1998 edition car with the registration number GWA 715 AQ belonging to the SEC official was stolen at about 3:30 pm on Wednesday were it was parked by car thieves at Lozumba Plaza at UTC near AMAC Secretariat, Abuja.
A traumatised Saleh told Prompt News that the car was double-locked with break pedal key where it was parked yet the thieves broke into the car to drive it away.
Said he, “I just came to this plaza (Lozumba) to do some printing and bidding job, I did not stay too long only to come out where I parked my car but it was gone. Most shocking is the fact that I even locked it with pedal lock yet thieves carried the car way”.
He however said he will report the incident to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to ensure that the thieves will be tracked, adding that he has implicit confidence in the country’s security to fight crime and criminality in the land.
A private security guard who pleaded anonymity at the scene of the incident (Lozumba Plaza) disclosed that car theft has become rampant in the area of late, saying that many patrons to the business premises have lost their cars to thieves.
He attributed the trend to the effects of Covid-19 pandemic which has forced the managers of the complex to withdraw the security guards who hitherto parade the parking lots.
Meanwhile, with the economic hardship biting hard on the citizens following the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, crimes and criminality have increased astronomically in Abuja as many residents are frequently dispossessed of their belongings even in the broad day light.
Prompt News investigations revealed that both petty and big crimes have increased in the major cities of Nigeria with FCT facing an upsurge in crimes including car jerking.
Other crimes which Abuja residents are currently suffering include burglary, kidnapping, rape and arson. Although the authorities are doing their best to curb the trend, many residents still fall victim of the nefarious activities of the criminals.
