As night falls in Kpeygi, a small but growing community along the Nyanya-Orozo axis, fear creeps into the hearts of its residents. The fear isn’t of the dark itself, but of what—or who—lurks within it.
“I don give up, I don give up, I can’t do it anymore,” says Clement Uche, his voice heavy with frustration and resignation.
For Uche, the ongoing thefts in his community have become an unbearable burden. Two months earlier, his motorcycle was stolen in the dead of night, leaving him not only without a means of transportation but also without answers.
“I had parked my motorcycle behind the house and left it in the care of my wife and kids,” he recalled. “ Only for me to get a call from my wife two days after I left, telling me that they woke up and found that my motorcycle had disappeared.”
Despite reporting the theft to the police, who assured him they would recover the motorcycle, Uche has heard nothing since. It wasn’t just his motorcycle that vanished—other items outside his home have also been taken, despite his efforts to protect them.
“ I thought having a dog would make them stay away,” he said. “It obviously did not work since the dog did not bark when my motorcycle was taken away.”
Uche’s story is just one among many in Kpeygi, where thefts have become almost a weekly occurrence. The community, which lies just before the vast Post Army Housing Estate Kurudu and the Police Housing Estate, is slowly expanding as more people buy land and build homes. But with this growth comes an unsettling increase in crime.
Caught Off Guard
For some residents, like Felicia Anguia, the consequences of living in Kpeygi are not just financial—they are life-threatening. One evening, as she returned from work, Anguia found herself in a situation she could never have anticipated.
“It was 7 PM, and when I got to the expressway that led to my house, I didn’t get a bike. Since it was not far from my house, I decided to walk home,” she said.
Anguia, new to the area, didn’t yet know the stories of theft that haunt Kpeygi. Coming from a lively street in Orozo, she thought nothing of walking home in the early evening. But as she made her way down the road, the sound of footsteps behind her sent a chill down her spine.
“I heard whispers around a dark corner. I did not see the people, but I heard how their footsteps were slowly heading in my direction,” she recalled.
In a panic, Anguia tried to quicken her pace, but it was too late. Four men, reeking of smoke, had caught up with her. They grabbed her, took her bag, wig, and jewelry, and silenced her screams by covering her mouth.
“I don’t know where I got the nerve to try to scream, but to this day I am grateful they did not stab or do anything worse to me,’ she said. “After taking my valuable items, they left me crying on the lonely street and disappeared.”
Since that night, Anguia has never walked home alone after dark. She now only travels by cab or bike, or she stays with friends until morning.
A Community under Siege
Kpeygi’s residents believe that the poor state of the roads is a key factor in the rise of nighttime crime.
“The road has many bumps, and when it’s dark, the orchestrators of this crime pursue people walking on the lonely street because they know it will be difficult for people to run fast and escape the trap,” a vigilante in the community who asked to stay anonymous explained.
The vigilante, who has taken it upon himself to patrol the area with a cutlass and torchlight, says he’s been driven to act by the sheer number of complaints from his neighbours.
“I am a family man, and I have to be very conscious of my environment, especially with all that is happening in this community,” he said, adding that other residents have joined him in the effort.
Just last month, the vigilante and the police chased after a group of criminals; though he has yet to hear whether they were caught, he expressed his belief that the thieves are likely locals who observe their targets during the day and strike at night.
The people of Kpeygi are tired—tired of living in fear, tired of feeling unsafe in their own homes. They want to live in a community where they can move freely at night without the constant threat of being robbed. But for that to happen, they need help. They plead with the police and the government to not only address the issue of crime but also to improve the roads, hoping that better infrastructure might bring about the safety they desperately seek
Residents of Kpeygi, a growing community along the Nyanya-Orozo axis, live in fear due to frequent nighttime thefts. The community, facing a surge in crime as it expands, sees incidents almost weekly, leaving people like Clement Uche, who lost his motorcycle, and Felicia Anguia, who was ambushed and robbed, deeply affected. Anguia now avoids walking alone after dark, opting for safer transportation methods.
The poor state of the roads exacerbates the situation, with vigilantes patrolling to protect their neighbors but finding it challenging to curb the crime. Residents are weary and plead for improved infrastructure and heightened police presence to enhance safety and security. They are hopeful that better roads and stronger law enforcement will help restore their peace of mind.
