In a daring incident on Sunday evening, a gang of kidnappers, disguised as herdsmen, infiltrated Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse, a suburban area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) situated in the Bwari Area Council. The assailants, armed with guns, seized eight residents from the estate before proceeding to abduct two employees from a nearby hotel.
The invasion unfolded around 7:30 p.m., with the gun-wielding marauders coercing their victims towards the nearby hills behind the estate. Eyewitnesses reported that attempts by security personnel and estate security to pursue the kidnappers were met with fierce resistance. The bandits, wielding superior firepower, strategically fired from elevated positions atop the hills.
Over the weekend, the FCT Police Command had assured the residents of Abuja, especially those in Ushafa, Bwari, and surrounding areas, of their safety. Additional police personnel were deployed to address potential security threats. Ushafa, located just five minutes away from the targeted Dutse estate, has been on heightened alert.
FCT Police Commissioner, CP Haruna Garba, conducted a visit to areas in Bwari last Wednesday, prompted by reports of kidnapping attacks. The objective was to assess and enhance the security situation in the region. The command issued a stern warning against the spread of unverified information, emphasizing the need to prevent unnecessary panic among residents.
This incident follows a series of recent attacks in the FCT and neighboring areas. Notably, on December 24, bandits invaded the Garam community, resulting in the tragic killing of a pastor from the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the abduction of 13 individuals. Subsequently, on December 28, a similar incident occurred in Kuduru, where 18 people were kidnapped. On December 29, bandits targeted Azu in Niger State, resulting in three fatalities and the abduction of eight others. The surge in such criminal activities underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the authorities in maintaining security in these regions.
