A 16-year-old boy and six young girls have been abducted from Gidan-Bijimi in Kawu Ward of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, in what residents described as a terrifying night attack that has left the entire community in shock and fear.
The quiet community, which borders Marke village near Kaduna State, was thrown into chaos on Wednesday night as gunmen reportedly invaded the area, causing panic and confusion among residents who were already asleep.
Residents in Fear After Night Raid
A resident, Suleiman Shuaibu, confirmed the kidnapping during a phone call on Thursday morning, describing the incident as one of the worst attacks the community has experienced in recent times.
He said armed bandits carrying AK-47 rifles stormed two houses at about 9:47 pm and took away the teenagers.
The victims include a 16-year-old boy and six girls aged between 17 and 23 years, most of whom are said to be students and young women from neighboring families.
According to him, the attackers fired several gunshots into the air and at nearby buildings, forcing frightened residents to run for safety and hide in nearby bushes and rooms.
Shuaibu explained that community vigilantes attempted to confront the bandits but were overpowered by their heavier firepower, as the attackers were better armed and outnumbered the local security team.
He added that many residents were terrified and fled their homes after the attack, while others locked themselves indoors for fear of possible return by the kidnappers.
He also said there had been no contact with the kidnappers, and no ransom demand had been communicated as of the time of filing this report.
Family Members Among Victims
“It was around 9:53 pm when a call came from Gidan-Bijimi that bandits invaded the village and abducted six young girls. Unfortunately, my cousin sister happened to be among the victims,” he said, adding that the families are devastated and desperately hoping for the safe return of their loved ones.
Attempts to get comments from SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not responded to as of the time of publication.
She did not answer phone calls or reply to text messages at the time of filing the report, leaving residents and concerned Nigerians waiting for an official statement from the police authorities.
Security Tightened Across Abuja
The incident happened shortly after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, ordered tighter security around Abuja following a rise in criminal activities and security threats within the capital and its outskirts.
He directed security agencies to increase surveillance at all borders and major entry points into the city in a bid to prevent further infiltration by criminals.
Following the directive, a joint operation involving the police, DSS, military, and other agencies was deployed across the capital to strengthen security and reassure residents.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, told the team to work together and stop criminal activities in the territory, stressing the need for intelligence sharing and rapid response to emergencies.
He said the minister had provided the needed logistics to support the operation and keep residents safe, assuring Abuja residents that efforts were underway to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victims.