Abuja: Residents of Peze and Kungabokun Communities in the Byazhin-Across area of Kubwa, a satellite town in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have shared harrowing accounts of kidnappings. They reported that suspected armed terrorists have continued to assault the area, bordered by hills and bushes, kidnapping residents, including women and children.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the repeated attacks have heightened fears among the residents. They have called on the Federal Government to address the deteriorating security situation. Pastor Tony Anotu from Peze Community shared that his four children, aged six to 16, were rescued by security personnel without any ransom payment. His children were rescued alongside the wife and sister of a vigilance group member who were abducted on the same day.
Chief Saidu Ibrahim, the Village Head of Peze Community, expressed devastation over the continued attacks. He disclosed that gunmen abducted two people last week, who were released after a ransom payment of nearly N500,000. Ibrahim suggested the presence of informants within the community, facilitating these operations. He further reported that a vigilance group member was killed and several people were kidnapped in the nearby Kugabonku Community.
Chief Jagaba Ishaya, the Village Head of Kugabonku Community, described recent kidnappings as concerning. Three people were kidnapped from a former naval officer’s residence, while four others were abducted from a poultry farm. He urged the government to support the vigilance group with better resources to combat the heavily armed attackers.
Mathew Samuel, a member of the vigilance group, called for government support in their fight against the kidnappers. NAN observed military, police, and civil defense deployment in the area. The Byazhin DPO, Christopher Owujie, referred inquiries to the FCT Police Command PRO, Josephine Adeh. An anonymous officer confirmed intensified security surveillance in response to recent kidnappings.
SP Adeh stated that the kidnap victims were rescued through a coordinated effort by the police, military, and DSS. She highlighted that some terrorists were neutralized, while others escaped with injuries, and two were arrested. The operation led to the successful rescue of twenty kidnapped victims from Byazhin District and surrounding areas.