Residents of Minna, Niger State capital, and its environs have lamented the sudden rise in all forms of crime and criminalities including; house burgling, attacks, drug addiction and trafficking, armed robbery, rape, murder, handset snatching and armed robbery.

While the various crimes are not peculiar to any part of Minna metropolis, the perpetrators carry out their evil machinations day and night, findings reveal that the trend involves mostly youths.

Despite precautionary measures by shop owners and residents to ward off criminals, findings indicated that the criminal monitor their targets and use instruments like sledge hammers and iron cutters to force their way into the shops and residence after monitoring movements of their targets.

The criminals who broke into shops and residences target mobile phones, laptops, iPads, jewelries and cash as many of the victims recount their losses in millions of Naira.

The criminals, according to some of the victims, take advantage of the rainy sea­son to carry out their nefar­ious activities because when it is raining at midnights neighbours would not hear what is happening in their neighborhood and when alarms are being raised.

One of the victims, Adegoke Jimoh who is blaming the surge in crime on hunger and the bad economic situation also attributed the trend on the failure of security agencies to step up action towards securing the lives and property of the citizens.

Areas mostly affected by the surging crimes included Balikinsale, Maitumbi, Kpakungu, Tunga, Bosso, Sauka Kahuta, Limawa, Dutsen kuragwari and Dutsenkura Hausa.

While some communities have resorted to self-protection by constructing entry and exit gates and engaging the services of private security outfits or raise forces within themselves to defend them.

While making personal ef­forts to safeguard their lives and properties, the residents are calling on the Governor Mohammed Umar Bago-led administration and the state Commissioner of police, Mr. Ebenezer Shawulu Dan­mamman, to as a matter of urgency take action against the perpetrators.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, SP Wasiu A. Abiodun, could not confirm the surge in crime. (Daily Independent)