Gunmen suspected to be bandits who have infiltrated from the Northwest and Northcentral adjoining States have abducted several persons in an attack on the Kuje community, a major satellite cities of the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
About three weeks ago, gunmen in similar fashion invaded the Tunga Maje Community in Abuja and abducted five persons, demanding ramson. They were eventually released.
Last week, member of House of Representatives, Shehu Beji, raised the alarm over the migration of bandits towards the FCT.
Beji, at the plenary last week Wednesday, had moved a motion titled, ‘Call for the Establishment of Military Base to Combat Banditry attacks in Shiroro/Rafi/Munya Local Government Areas of Niger State Spilling into Kafinkoro, Ishau and Adunu Wards under Bosso/Paikoro Federal Constituency.’
In the motion by Beji, which was later adopted, “the House is also concerned that even the Federal Capital Territory, where national and international businesses are being conducted, is no longer safe as there have been reported cases of kidnappings/banditry within the FCT. The rate of killings across the nation, which is now spilling into the Federal Capital Territory, is breeding a global embarrassment depicting how less prepared again in terms of security.”
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Yusuf Mariam, who confirmed the abductions on Sunday, said that “efforts were in top gear to rescue the kidnapped persons.”
Sources said that the incident happened about 6.00 pm on Saturday when people were returning home after going to congratulate the new Kuje Area Council Education Secretary, Mr Yunusa Zakari.
The source said that a former Vice Chairman of Kuje Council, Mohammed Baba, and some Council members were among those abducted.
It noted that the gunmen hijacked a bus the victims were travelling in. The gunmen then commandeered the bus into the bush with all its occupants.