In the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a disturbing escalation in banditry has been witnessed, marked by a recent incident where unidentified gunmen injured two policemen and abducted seven family members.
The assailants, who have been increasingly targeting villages in the Bwari Area Council, reportedly shot dead a middle-aged man known as Alhaji.
Alhaji had bravely led the police in an attempt to thwart the kidnapping but tragically lost his life in the encounter.
This unsettling event transpired in the early hours of Wednesday, January 3, in Zuma 1, located in the Bwari central ward.
The gunmen, strategically positioning themselves, targeted the house of their victims, prompting the quick-witted family to contact Alhaji upon hearing suspicious sounds.
Tragically, Alhaji, leading a police team to respond, fell victim to the gunmen’s ambush and was fatally shot.
A firefight ensued between the police and the assailants, resulting in two officers sustaining gunshot wounds. Despite the police’s efforts, the gunmen managed to abduct the man and his family members.
This incident followed a pattern of violence, as just a day prior, on Tuesday, January 2, gunmen invaded Barangoni, also in Bwari central ward. In that instance, three individuals were abducted, and a vigilant community member was injured.
Expressing the gravity of the situation, a resident named Isaiah Samuel emphasized that Bwari Area Council is grappling with a siege.
Over the past two weeks, a wave of violence has swept through various communities, with gunmen indiscriminately killing and abducting residents.
Samuel urged the authorities of the council to intervene promptly, collaborating with security forces to address the persistent threat of kidnapping in the area.
The community seeks urgent measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents in the face of this alarming trend.
