Panic as gunmen strike Abuja community, kidnap 4 persons

The residents of Bmuko community in Dutse Baupma axis of Bwari area council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are in a state of panic after four individuals were kidnapped Monday night.

According to a resident of the community, who goes by the name Isah, the incident took place around 11:50 PM at the residence of one Engineer Patrick.

The wife and brother of Patrick were among the individuals who were kidnapped. The situation is definitely concerning, and the authorities are working diligently to ensure their safe return.

According to him, “the kidnappers who were more than 30 in number stormed Zone C, Road 5 of the community and shot sporadically into the air, before they broke into the house of the engineer and abducted two of this family members.

“From the engineer’s house, after carrying his wife and brother, they divided themselves into two groups. One group went towards the riverside that leads to Kubwa and Bwari, while the other group went towards the hillside.

“It was the group going towards the hillside that stopped at a nearby house, where they kidnapped a Pastor and another young man. We could not do anything, we were scared to death during the period of the operation,” he added.

A community leader in the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they heard gunshots few minutes to 12 mid night, a development which made one of the landlords to send out a voice note on their Whatsapp platform that they were being attacked.

“Swiftly, our security personnel came down, we had to make calls to the FCDA Police station, luckily we had intervention from them, and soldiers also came to our rescue. However, the whole thing turned to something else, as nobody was arrested. 

“But, the kidnappers went with three or four people. As we speak, the soldiers who went in search of them have returned without rescuing them. The policemen are still in the bush searching for them. 

“We have been demanding for Police outpost here in the Bmuko community, this is a populated environment. Whatever is happening here is not out of the knowledge of the security architecture of the FCT,” he said.

He stressed that if they had the Police patrolling the area at least three to four times in a week, it would help to deter criminals.

“The people will also be guided both in information and movement. We are trusting that those kidnapped would be rescued safely. They have not contacted anybody yet. We are seriously praying for their safety. 

“The wife and brother of one Engineer Patrick were also among the people that were kidnapped, and also a Pastor. The kidnappers came with AK47, because some of the guys during the night search picked up about two or three bullets of AK47,”  he said.