In a distressing incident in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, gunmen abducted seven family members, resulting in two policemen sustaining bullet injuries. The assailants, identified as bandits, carried out the abduction in the Zuma 1 area of Bwari central ward.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday when the bandits strategically positioned themselves in the vicinity. The victims, upon sensing suspicious movements, contacted a relative known as Alhaji, who led a police team to confront the kidnappers. Tragically, Alhaji was shot dead by one of the bandits during the confrontation.
The gunfight between the police officers and the bandits left two policemen injured. The rise in bandit attacks within the nation’s capital has been a growing concern, with recent incidents involving abductions and attacks on villages.
Residents report that Bwari Area Council has been under siege, experiencing a surge in bandit activities over the past two weeks. The victims’ home was targeted by the assailants, who successfully kidnapped seven family members. Additionally, in a separate incident, bandits invaded Barangoni, also in Bwari central ward, on Tuesday, abducting three persons and injuring a vigilante member.
Despite attempts to obtain official information, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, remained unresponsive to phone calls and text messages. The community continues to grapple with the escalating security challenges and the tragic loss of Alhaji during the attempted rescue.