On FCT Pedestrian Bridges, Constant Ambush and Rape

Pedestrian bridges are constructed to prevent pedestrians from being killed when they are struck by fast-moving vehicles on major roads. It has also contributed to lowering the alarming number of road users who suffer permanent injuries as a result of the lack of pedestrian bridges. The bridges have also provided relief to wheelchair users who are used to sharing the road and battling vehicular traffic while attempting to cross it.

Though the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) does not build enough pedestrian bridges across major roads in city centers, money spent to build pedestrian bridges is significant to ensure that residents have a safe mode of transportation that does not interfere with other traffic on the road; unfortunately, most of them are now used for other purposes.

Most residents have stopped using the bridge, according to our reporter, and can be seen standing beneath the pedestrian bridge or a few meters away from the bridges, attempting to cross safely without using the pedestrian bridge.
“Ultimately, human life is sacred and valuable because the costs of not using a pedestrian bridge have been unimaginable,” said Gambo Dingyadi, a public affairs analyst, “the primary reason why the bridges were constructed beyond making the nation’s ‘gem city’ a lovely and safe ‘haven’ for many.”

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Obviously, as the seat of power, one would expect Abuja to be well policed to prevent crime, but that is not the case. The city, like many others across the country, has its share of bad neighborhoods.

When our Reporter asked some residents of the nation’s capital why they prefer to cross busy roads on foot rather than using pedestrian bridges, they cited the dangers of doing so at night.

At Kubwa Bridge, hoodlums took my phone from me under duress and at gunpoint. After several failed attempts to contact my bank’s customer service using my wife’s phone, I received a debit transaction alert via email late at night.

“I have no idea how the thieves got my pin or phone password.” Unfortunately, I just received my salary, and they used a POS to withdraw all of the money in my account. Even though I still cross the pedestrian bridge to avoid being hit by a moving vehicle, the memories of how I was robbed on this bridge will never be forgotten,’ he said.

Samuel Ugobo’s tragic story is told here. The 37-year-old Kubwa-based private security operative lost N42, 000 and his phone in a single night while crossing the pedestrian bridge safely. His family suffered for a month, surviving solely on the help of friends and relatives until he was paid the following month.

Ms Catherine Danladi, a resident and civil servant, said she stopped using the bridge because she saw a trail of blood in one of the bridges on her way to work in the morning. She stated that the bloodstain on the bridge was still fresh, implying that someone had been stabbed.

“I haven’t been able to get that trail of blood out of my mind since the day I saw it.” Even during the day, I no longer have the confidence in myself to cross pedestrian bridges safely. I’ve heard a number of heartbreaking accounts of people being attacked on pedestrian bridges at night in order to steal from them.

“I heard about a young lady who was nearly raped by hoodlums who stole her phone, money, and other valuables. She was about to be raped if it hadn’t been for the arrival of some police officers, who saved her from the hoodlums’ clutches. “However, she was not fortunate enough, as they took her valuables,” she explained.

Nosa, a student from Edo state who sells wares at the Nicon Junction pedestrian bridge, explained that they have received reports on several occasions of young ladies being victims of hoodlums on the bridge. He claims that the hoodlums prefer to attack women because they believe they lack the strength to defend themselves.

Nosa said he heard about two girls who were raped on Nicon Junction Bridge because they refused to give up their valuables and wanted to fight back. He claims that the hoodlums are usually in groups of more than three to ensure that the heinous operation is carried out successfully.

“When they want to operate, they sometimes come to us late on the bridge and tell us to leave because it is already late, so we should close.” If we try to reason with them, they will attack us with knives and even steal our belongings. If we see them, we usually have to close for the day. Their primary targets are women; even if a group of women is walking across the bridge at night, they will attack them and steal their cellphones, money, wristwatches, and other valuables.

“The truth is that the pedestrian bridges in the FCT are always dark at night, making it impossible for anyone to feel safe.” As you may be aware, evil thrives in the dark, which is why hoodlums take advantage of the darkness surrounding pedestrian bridges to commit crimes against innocent victims who are unable to cross the expressway. I’m not sure why the Minister of the FCT would build pedestrian bridges without installing electric lights to deter criminal activity at night.

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“I believe that having lightning on Abuja pedestrian bridges would help to reduce the number of crimes committed at night on the bridges.” In addition, uniformed police officers should be stationed at pedestrian bridges at night to deter hoodlums from committing crimes. Because they will be scared if they see uniform police around the bridges,” he explained.

Despite the security issues that exist on pedestrian bridges at night, most people regard some of them, particularly those near busy intersections, as large markets where people can buy and sell during the day.

Galadima bridge, along the Kubwa expressway, Dei-Dei junction bridge, and Mararaba bridge are some of the most popular pedestrian bridges turned markets. It has been overtaken by beggars of all kinds and pickpockets for the Mararaba bridge. On these bridges, a variety of household items are sold, including food, clothing, cheap mobile phones, phone accessories, and other items.

Pedestrians can only navigate through the narrow space left by traders who display their wares on a better part of the bridge due to the business activities on the bridges. To avoid the chaos, some pedestrians will choose to cross major roads rather than use bridges to avoid the crowds.

Residents in the nation’s capital are increasingly preferring to cross highways rather than use pedestrian bridges for a variety of reasons, one of which is the long distance required to reach the bridge or the fear of being attacked by hoodlums who use the bridges as a means of capturing their victims and robbing them of their valuables. The majority of the bridges in the FCT have been severely abused and are being used for purposes other than those for which they were built.

Our reporter also noticed that the majority of pedestrian bridges in the Federal Capital Territory lack an electrical power supply or are inadequately lit. Meanwhile, the few pedestrian bridges that have sections where people with disabilities (PLWDs) can use their wheelchair have been converted into public toilets, where users and beggars answer the call of nature when the buttons are pressed, making it impossible for PLWDs to use them.

According to reports, there have been numerous claims of hoodlums committing theft and rape on the bridges at night, but everything appears normal and natural during the day, with only a few pedestrians using some of the bridges, and little or no one anticipating any criminal act at that time of day.

Mrs. Salami Ephraim, one of the daily pedestrians who uses the bridge, said that the activities of traders on the bridge make it difficult for people to move freely, and she called on the FCT transport secretariat to intervene.

Mr. Godfrey Ikechuckwu, a social analyst, believes that the FCT authority can learn a lot from Lagos State when it comes to enforcement of pedestrian bridge maintenance and use.

“When you visit Lagos, you will see the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) all over the place, ensuring that traffic laws are followed. Anyone who dares to break the law, whether by improper parking, crossing busy expressways, or selling on pedestrian bridges, must be prepared to pay hefty fines. That’s why in Lagos, they always say that fear of LASTMA is the beginning of wisdom,” he explained.

When contacted, DSP Adeh Josephine, the Public Relations Officer for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, urged the public to report any cases of harassment or theft at pedestrian bridges.

According to Adeh, the Police Department requires this information in order to improve security and ensure that citizens are not harassed in their daily lives.

“I’ll immediately contact the DPOs whose locations are closed to pedestrian bridges to request that they beef up security around those areas.”

“Everyone has the right to go about their daily lives without fear of harassment or intimidation.

“Please assist me in urging residents of the FCT to report cases of harassment to the nearest police station as soon as possible.”

She went on to say that police do not work in isolation because they rely on information from the public to protect themselves and ensure that society is crime-free.