By Daniel Tyokua
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have stormed Ajayapi community in the Byazhin area of Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), killing one vigilante and abducting five residents.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, coming two months after gunmen attacked Peze community a few kilometres away, where about 16 residents were reportedly kidnapped.
An eyewitness, Ene Ameh, confirmed the incident, saying it happened just behind Holy Spirit Catholic Church around midnight.
“I heard gunshots in my house around 12:28 a.m. One of the vigilantes who engaged them was killed,” she said.
Ameh said she did not see the attackers but was told by another resident at the scene that the gunmen were “young boys.”
She added that about eight police officers arrived after the attackers had left.
“The police came after the abduction. I saw them around 1:26 a.m. They just asked questions up and down and left,” she said.
Ameh said the victims include an 11-year-old boy, the husband of a woman who sells garri in the local market, and a man who recently moved into the area.
“The woman is just outside now with her children. They are all crying. They said the woman’s husband just went abroad and the woman is selling garri in the small market in our area. Maybe they thought now that he went abroad, he has gotten money. One of the people they took, the man just moved into the area on Sunday. Now they have gone and carried him,” she said.
Another resident, Andy Eze, said the kidnappers also made off with a bag of rice taken from one of the victims’ homes.
The attack left many residents afraid to stay in their homes, with some gathering on the street-lit main road to discuss the incident.
“I will wait till daybreak and leave here immediately. I will look for somewhere to stay. I can’t sleep at my house any longer. I’m just following the crowd around,” Ameh said.
There was no response from the FCT Police Command as of the time of filing this report.
