“He was the first to arrive at the meeting point. We later learned that the assailants attacked him several times on the head before escaping with the motorcycle he came with.”
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been thrown into mourning following the death of one of its senior officers, Deputy Superintendent Maiwada Abubakar Santali, who reportedly succumbed to injuries sustained during a violent attack by suspected motorcycle thieves in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The tragic incident occurred in the Karshi community, located within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where the officer was allegedly ambushed and fatally assaulted before his motorcycle was stolen.
Santali was serving with the Department of Urban and Regional Development under the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA), where he was said to have carried out his official responsibilities before the unfortunate attack that claimed his life.
According to information provided by a relative of the deceased, Sani Musa, Santali had completed his work schedule on Monday and returned to his residence in Karshi in the evening.
After spending some time with members of his family, he reportedly left home to meet friends at a popular relaxation spot in the neighbourhood.
The gathering place, commonly known among residents as Majalisa, is located close to Government Secondary School (GSS), Karshi, and is frequently visited by people in the area during the evenings.
Family members said Santali arrived at the location before anyone else. It was during that period, while he was reportedly alone, that suspected motorcycle robbers allegedly launched a violent attack on him.
According to Musa, the attackers repeatedly struck the NSCDC officer on the head before taking possession of his motorcycle and fleeing the scene, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.
“He was the first to arrive at the meeting point. We later learned that the assailants attacked him several times on the head before escaping with the motorcycle he came with,” Musa was quoted as saying.
Despite the severity of the assault, Santali reportedly managed to cry out for help, attracting the attention of nearby commercial motorcyclists.
The commercial riders, who were washing their motorcycles at a stream not far from the scene, reportedly rushed to investigate after hearing distress calls. They found the injured officer struggling to remain on his feet before he eventually collapsed.
The Good Samaritans wasted no time in taking him to the General Hospital in Karshi, where medical personnel provided emergency treatment.
However, due to the seriousness of his injuries, doctors referred him to the National Hospital, Abuja, for advanced medical care.
Despite efforts by healthcare workers to save his life, Santali died the following day while receiving treatment, leaving his family, colleagues, and loved ones devastated.
His death has once again drawn attention to the growing concern over violent attacks and motorcycle theft in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory, where criminals have increasingly targeted unsuspecting residents.
Although details surrounding the attack remain limited, residents have expressed concern over the security situation in parts of the Karshi community, urging law enforcement agencies to intensify surveillance and ensure those responsible are identified and prosecuted.
The loss of the senior NSCDC officer has also sparked sympathy from residents and colleagues, many of whom described the incident as both shocking and heartbreaking.
Following Islamic tradition, Santali was buried on Tuesday in the presence of family members, friends, colleagues, and other mourners who gathered to pay their final respects.
As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had not officially announced any arrests in connection with the attack, while investigations into the incident were expected to continue.
The incident serves as another reminder of the dangers posed by violent criminals who target road users and motorcycle owners.
Residents have continued to call for stronger security patrols and improved intelligence gathering to prevent similar attacks and enhance public safety across communities in the Federal Capital Territory.
