At least seven people were reportedly kidnapped between October 2 and 21 in three Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The kidnapping incidents took place in the Bwari, Gwagwalada, and Abaji Area Councils.
Abuja Metro reports that on October 2, gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, invaded Kungabokun, a remote community located near Byazhin-Across on the outskirts of Kubwa, in Bwari Area Council.
The attackers reportedly killed a veterinary doctor, identified as Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbo, after forcing their way into his home. His three children were reportedly kidnapped during the attack.
On October 16, kidnappers abducted a primary school teacher, Ishaya Ismaila, while he was harvesting maize at his farm in Tungan Maje, a community in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
He reportedly regained his freedom after he was said to have paid a N1 million ransom.
On October 21, Abuja Metro reports that the Principal of Junior Secondary School (JSS) Naharati in the Abaji Area Council, Zakari Abdulkadir Yelwa, his wife, Rakiya Zakari Yelwa, and their daughter, Hafsat Dauda, were abducted.
The principal’s son, Mohammed Zakari Yelwa, confirmed the kidnapping of his family members when our reporter visited their residence, opposite the Government Science Technical College (GSTC). The victims have, however, regained freedom after the payment of a N3.1 million ransom.
Abuja Metro further reports that aside from these, there are pockets of attacks by bandits on Niger communities that border Bwari, raising fear among residents of Bwari town.
Residents raise concerns
Meanwhile, residents of the Bwari and Abaji area councils in the FCT have expressed deep concern over the resurgence of kidnapping activities by suspected gunmen in the two councils.
A cross-section of residents of Abaji town, who spoke with our reporter on Sunday, expressed worry about the latest incidents, calling it a serious concern.
They said they had enjoyed a sigh of relief over the last two years, when the joint efforts of the police and local vigilantes had succeeded in preventing abductions in the council.
Mr. Adamu Usman, a resident, said that since the latest kidnapping, he has been unable to sleep comfortably with his family.
According to him, he now stays awake from 9 pm until 2 am before retiring to sleep, due to the fear of being attacked by suspected kidnappers.
“The truth is that since that incident happened on Tuesday night where the principal, his wife, and daughter were abducted, my family and I have not been sleeping comfortably again, especially when it is getting dark,” he said.
Suleiman Danjuma, another resident from Unguwar Hausawa, echoed the sentiment, stating that residents had been relieved for the past two years, but the recent incident has left him living in fear.
He noted that while there are some vigilantes who patrol the area, he still panics whenever he hears of an abduction.
“At least, anybody who resides in Abaji, especially those that stay around Unguwar Hausawa, will attest to what we passed through in the hands of kidnappers until security operatives and the vigilante rose against them. That’s when we started sleeping with both of our eyes closed in the last two years,” he said.
He added that the latest incident has caused panic in Unguwar Hausawa, leading some residents to consider relocating to the town center.
Samson Dangana, another resident, said some farmers were forced to flee their fields last week after they sighted suspected kidnappers close to their farms.
“Just last week, some farmers who went to the farm abandoned their farms and ran back home after they sighted some suspected kidnappers, which has also led to serious panic among residents,” he said.
Dangana called on the council authorities to re-strategize and mobilize security operatives and vigilantes to curtail any possible attack by the kidnappers.
A security source in the area, who preferred anonymity, confided in our reporter that the council chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Abdullahi, had been briefed of the resurgence of suspected kidnappers.
“Actually, during the last security meeting, the council chairman was briefed about this issue you are talking about, especially with the latest kidnap of a school principal, his wife, and daughter. The chairman has assured that he will support the security operatives and the vigilantes in Abaji,” he said.
Similarly, residents of Bwari pleaded with the new police commissioner to beef up security around the communities bordering Bwari.
Mr. Segun Idowu, who lives in the Piwoyi area of Bwari, noted that the bandits often attack Bwari and Kubwa from those neighbouring communities.
The new FCT Police Commissioner, Dantawaye Miller, had, while meeting the senior officers of the command, directed the Area Commanders and the Divisional Police Officers to prioritize and tighten security in their respective domains. He assured the public of the command’s determination to safeguard lives and properties in the nation’s capital.
By Abubakar Sadiq Isah @DailyTrust
