‘Kidnappers capitalising on tall grasses along Abuja-Kaduna highway’

The bush along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway has encroached on the road which according to seasoned security experts is a misnomer as far as security is concerned. They say it affects visibility of drivers, security personnel on patrol, but ironically exposes accident victims thereby aiding kidnappers and armed robbers to have access to their helpless victims. […]

The bush along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway has encroached on the road which according to seasoned security experts is a misnomer as far as security is concerned. They say it affects visibility of drivers, security personnel on patrol, but ironically exposes accident victims thereby aiding kidnappers and armed robbers to have access to their helpless victims.

A survey by Daily Trust shows that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministries of Transport, Power, Works and Housing, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, state governments, local governments and local communities do not clear the sides of the road as is expected of them.

Both sides of the road have grown bushy while the pavements have been overgrown with grasses that have become a home to reptiles and a den for armed robbers and kidnappers.

It has been testified by motorists that kidnapping and armed robbery on the Abuja-Kaduna lane is more frequent than on the Kaduna-Abuja lane.

The expressway became so busy when the Abuja airport was undergoing rehabilitation. Therefore, heavy traffic had a toll on the road as it left many dangerous potholes.

Following this disturbing trend, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, General Muhammadu Dan-Hanne Isah (Rtd) said, “I am very much in support of clearing both shoulders of the road and the centre for clearer view. You can’t mortgage the security of life and property for beautification.”

Meanwhile, former Chief Security Officer to former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, Colonel D.A.D. Usman Dudu (Rtd) Esq said: “Grasses are not supposed to encroach on the road, but that is not enough to give a good chance to kidnappers, but it enhances their operations. It only enhances that they cannot be seen and detected easily, and it means they can do anything. Tall grasses along highways are supposed to be cleared to make the road visible not only along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway but along any other road in the country because if accidents occur, especially when there are no vehicles behind, the tall grasses will not make it easy detection and rescue.

“The road must be cleared not just because of the menace of kidnappers, but for motorists to be able to see the highway clearly both day and night and for the security personnel deployed there to be able to see clearly the movements of vehicles and any other movement. If you put yourself on the side of the criminals, you get advantage. The grasses are too tall. Naturally, it hampers the job of security.

“If the grasses were cut down low security personnel will be able to see each other day and night as much as possible. But if they are tall, they deter visibility.

“The Federal Ministry of Transport, FERMA and the communities should act to clear the roads. The work of agencies like like FERMA transcends beyond repair, they have to clear the roads. FERMA can use direct labour or some incentives for locals to clear the road,” he concluded.

Some time back, soldiers went on intelligence mission in the villages of Katari, Gadan Malam Mamman, Jere, Tafa, Rijana, Gidan Busa; among others along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway and they arrested suspected armed robbers who had been terrorising motorists, and that led to some respite for the people. Before then, it was rumoured that some community leaders knew those behind the acts but were afraid of pointing them out for fear of reprisals.

A transport expert, who preferred anonymity, said the abandonment of adequate budget for road construction, repair and supervision started dwindling when governors, ministers, corporate executives and senior government officials and their immediate families started travelling in chattered or local flights and that this led to poor maintenance of roads except those from airports to city centres.

He said armed men would continue to capitalise on bad roads which were encroached by grasses, and that this was a great and urgent issue which needed immediate action in order to save lives and property.