Living In The Shadow Of Terror

Security measures adopted in the wake of Boko Haram attacks have substantially altered living and driving in Abuja

In the wake of Boko Haram, Nigeria’s security system changed, just as it happened in 2001 in the United States of America when terrorists struck, killing about 3,000 people in just one day. That attacks shocked the world, and changed it. America woke up from its slumber and beefed up security both internally and externally. It even pursued its perceived enemies in foreign lands to ensure that America was safe. The 9/11attacks represented a warning to nations around the world to be prepared for things to come, and apostles of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the US attacks, keep rising every day in different parts of the world.

In Nigeria, before the decade of the US attacks ended, an Islamic sect, called Boko Haram, sprang up with the suspected assistance of some politicians, who engaged them as thugs to achieve their ambition. As usual, they were dumped and forgotten once power was gained. But the Islamic sect refused to be dumped; it decided to turn the guns against its sponsors – the politicians. Borno, the home state of Boko Haram, has remained a war-torn zone since 2009. What was a state matter soon became a regional issue. Gradually, the killing by Boko Haram spread to other parts of the northern region and then to the centre, Abuja, the country’s capital city.

In 2010, during the Independence Day celebration, a heavy attack was launched on the venue, Eagle Square at Three Arms Zone Abuja, in which over 30 people lost their lives. Government did not take any appreciable security measures to arrest the situation until the Nigeria Police Headquarters and the United Nations Office in Abuja were bombed.

Abuja suddenly became protected with all manner of security gadgets, road blocks, and security check points. Government institutions, like Nigerian National Petroleum corporation, NNPC, Central Bank, CBN, National Assembly Complex, Police Headquarters and the National Hospital are now heavily protected. In fact, the roads leading to embassies, National Assembly, the Federal Secretariat, and all the military formations in Abuja are currently barricaded from use by the public. The British High Commission had to relocate from its Aguiyi-Ironsi, Maitama office to a hilly Torrens Close in Maitama. The magazine learnt that only this High Commission structure is situated on the close; One is only permitted to enter the close if one has a verifiable transaction with the High Commission. Herbert Macaulay, the street that houses CBN, is also heavily protected. So also are the NNPC Towers and the National Assembly.

Boko Haram has not spared churches in its mission of destruction. A particularly gruesome attack occurred on 24 December 2011, when Boko Haram attacked the Catholic Church in Gwagwalada, a suburb of Abuja. With the attack, the security system in churches changed. Security was beefed up in churches in northern part of the country.

At present in Abuja, a worshipper can hardly get into any church with a bag. Neither can women with headgear or hats enter without first removing them for security checks. Each church is guarded by a handful of soldiers.

On weekdays all the roads that link these churches are free. But on Sunday, as early as 6am, all the roads are barricaded with armoured vehicles and battle-ready soldiers till the mass ends.

As Dayo Iginla, a Catholic faithful, put it,  “It is only God that has been saving us; security or no security, God is my protector.”

Patrick Jegede differed: “We are enjoying the security immensely because, when Boko Haram started, I stopped coming to church until the security arrangement was put in place. This restored my faith.”

The truth is that Abuja residents sleep with an eye open, because they never can tell where or when the next attack will come since Boko Haram applies new strategies daily.

The situation is not different at the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Aminu Kano, Wuse II, and Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry at Utako, Abuja. Members of these churches are only allowed to go in after a thorough check. Soldiers and private security guards are positioned in the front and back of these churches.

With such heavy security put in place, Abuja is relatively safe and the faithful can worship God with less fear.

But then, the blocking of major roads causes inconvenience to motorists. Many accidents have occurred as a result of these blockages, especially with non-residents who are not conversant with Abuja road network.

Narrating his ordeal to the magazine, Chuks Ejike said all the streets adjoining the Defence Headquarters are permanently closed. Chuks said he was going to a hotel through Area 10 and he didn’t know that the road had been barricaded. “Immediately I overtook a car at that junction I entered the street that leads to the hotel [but] before I could call ‘Jesus’ two soldiers pounced on me and beat me to a pulp.”

At the National Assembly, buses have been provided to convey visitors from the second gate to the main entrance, to ease their ordeal. Yinka Ajisebutu, a bank marketer, said before the Police Headquarters was bombed visitors could enter the complex with ease. “We were even driving in and parking inside. But now it is no longer so. I have had to trek from the main gate to the National Assembly in the wake of Boko Haram several times, until the management of National assembly introduced the shuttle buses. It was a long stretch of walk under the scorching sun of Abuja.”

—Sola Adeola/Abuja