Abuja formally became Nigeria's capital on December 12, 1991 during the regime of military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida. Before then, Lagos was the country's capital.
The panel that initiated the idea of making Abuja the nation's capital was said to have considered its vast area in order to allow room not just for the capital city but also for one that would accommodate most of the needs of the city, including water, forestry, industrial, agricultural, open spaces, defence, air transport and other needs.
So when the capital was moved, many Nigerians looked forward to residing in Abuja which they expected would be more peaceful than the already congested Lagos.
For some years, those who moved enjoyed that serenity they envisaged. Traffic was not in the city then as chaotic as it was in Lagos. Roads were well tarred and the city was well planned.
That serenity that characterises Abuja is however gradually leaving. As more people move into the city, chaos is also finding its way in. The situation is currently being aggravated by the activities of suspected terrorists.
On August 26, 2011, the United Nations Building in the Federal Capital Territory was attacked by a suspected terrorist who ran a car laden with explosive into the building, killing at least 21 persons and leaving about 60 others wounded. An Islamic sect, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident caused panic among residents of the city and forced security agencies and other relevant agencies to beef up security in and around the FCT.
That attack was preceded by an Independence Day bombing on October 1, 2010 near the Eagle Square. On December 31, 2010 the same Sect bombed a mammy market located near the Mogadishu Barracks (otherwise known as Abacha Barracks) and on June 16, 2011 it attacked the headquarters of the Nigeria Police.
Uneasy calm enveloped the city until April 26, 2012 when a lone suicide bomber attacked the office of THISDAY newspapers located in Jabi, Abuja. Expectedly, measures were again taken to protect the city. Security was beefed up at the entry points of the FCT as well as at government establishments and newspaper houses.
When residents began to think that security operatives had succeeded in keeping terrorists at bay, the peace in the city was again shattered in the early hours of last week Monday when about 40 gunmen suspected to be terrorists stormed the office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja, where suspects were being held.
At least 30 detainees, including some Boko Haram members, were said to have escaped during the attack on the detention facility. But the police denied that terror suspects were among the escapees. They also said that 25 of the 30 detainees had so far been rearrested.
The attack on the detention facility, located around Abattoir, Garki in Abuja was carried out around 2am. It lasted for some minutes during which heavy weapons were allegedly used by the gunmen.
Security which had been relaxed in Abuja following a reduction in bombings was hurriedly beefed up after the attack. Security agents, including policemen, soldiers and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, were deployed in the city to maintain peace.
Again, days of fears and apprehension returned as the city came under security siege again.
Less than 24 hours after the latest incident, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, summoned an emergency security council meeting.
The meeting, held at the office of the minister at Area 11, Garki, was attended by the acting FCT Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed; FCT Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yau Gital; Commander, Guards Brigade, FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba; Director, FCT Command of the Department of State Security Service as well as the Heads of the NSCDC and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
During the meeting, the minister decried loss of lives during the attack on the police facility and directed the police command to be on the alert to ensure the safety of lives and property. He called on security agencies to partner the residents of the city to ensure a safer city. He reiterated the commitment of the FCT administration to ensure peace and security, urging residents to remain calm and assist security agencies with information.
Those who think the fear of insecurity is only among the ordinary residents of the city had a rethink when members of the House of Representatives last Wednesday expressed fears over rising terrorist attacks in the country.
They said the attackers were becoming daring and could soon target places such as the National Assembly. The lawmakers also observed that responses to terror attacks by security agencies were weak, leaving the attackers, in many cases, to operate unhindered.
The lawmakers raised the concerns while debating a motion by Mr. Abubakar Momoh. It was Mr. Rapheal Nnanna's contribution that reportedly frightened the lawmakers. He recalled that the attack on the SARS office came barely 24 hours after terrorists bombed a church at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna. No fewer than 17 lives were lost in the incident. According to Nnanna, if Jaji and SARS could be attacked, the National Assembly Complex is not safe as well.
Nnanna said, "The state of insecurity in the country has reached an embarrassing level. What happened in Jaji and SARS headquarters is embarrassing to the leadership and people of this nation. I see these people coming to the National Assembly very soon."
The Minority Whip of the House, Mr. Samson Osagie, said criminal gangs were operating in the country with little or no resistance, describing the trend as "really dangerous and requires urgent solutions." But, another member, Mr. Jerry Alagbaso, observed that rather than criticising security agencies, government should fund their operations adequately.
One thing is sure that the days of fears are back in the city. This time, the fears are being nursed not only by the followers; but also by the leaders.
