Security expert and counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama has sounded the alarm over a surge in illicit activities at the Durumi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Abuja, spotlighting drug trafficking and criminal schemes despite recent efforts to dismantle the site.
The warning follows the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command’s recovery of a suspected stolen Toyota Corolla, registration number AAA 364 GL, abandoned at the camp for over 14 days by unknown individuals.
Makama, renowned for his security analysis in the Lake Chad region, alleged that the camp—home to displaced persons from Gwoza fleeing Boko Haram—has morphed into a hotspot for illegal enterprises. “Beyond housing displaced persons, the Durumi IDP camp has become a center for criminal enterprises, including drug trafficking and the operation of ‘One Chance’ syndicates that terrorize Abuja residents,” he stated.
Despite the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) demolishing parts of the camp, Makama noted that residents have rebuilt shelters nearby and resumed their activities unchecked. “They have erected new shelters some distance away from the camp and continued their illicit activities unabated,” he said. “They usually assemble in the evening within the location before being dispatched to various locations. While some of them have their customers coming to buy drugs within the camp.”
The analyst pointed to a bunker allegedly used for selling cocaine and other hard drugs, with a suspected kingpin named Hamman reportedly overseeing operations. He also raised concerns about young men being recruited into ‘One Chance’ robbery schemes, where victims are lured into vehicles and stripped of their possessions.
With investigations into the abandoned vehicle ongoing, Makama urged security agencies to ramp up surveillance and dismantle the criminal networks exploiting the camp. His call highlights the urgent need to protect displaced persons and restore safety for Abuja residents amid rising concerns over the camp’s transformation into a criminal hub.