Bandits on Wednesday night invaded Gidan Bijimi in Kawu ward of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) abducting six young girls alongside a 16-year-old boy.
It was gathered that the victims were in the community for the burial of a relative who died recently.
Daily Trust reports that the Gidan-Bijimi Community shares a boundary with neighbouring Marke village on the FCT–Kaduna State border.
A resident of the area, Suleiman Shuaibu, confirmed the incident to our reporter.
He said the bandits wielding AK-47 rifles invaded two houses in the community around 9:47 p.m. and whisked away the victims amid sporadic gunshots.
He said six of the victims are natives of Kubacha village in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State and that they arrived the community on Wednesday for a burial ceremony.
The source said the bandits first invaded the house of a resident of the community simply identified as Waha, but did not meet him at home after which they moved to the next compound and whisked away the guests alongside a 16-yearold boy.
“Actually, those six young girls who were abducted came from Kubacha village in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State for the burial of an elderly woman at Gidan -Bijimi community. The bandits, after missing their target invaded the compound where the guests were staying and whisked them away,” he said.
According to him, some residents were forced to flee their homes following gunshots by the bandits.
“Some of the villagers that fled their homes on Wednesday night have started returning,” the source added.
The source, who said one of the victims is his cousin, said some vigilante members in the area attempted to confront the attackers, but were forced to retreat due to the bandits’ “superior firepower”.
The attack is coming hours after President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu declared a state of emergency on Nigeria’s security situation.
In a statement on Wednesday, President Tinubu said the development followed a review of the nation’s security landscape, prompting him to “declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces.”
He also authorised the army and police to recruit more personnel. He said the police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000.
Our correspondent, who visited the FCT community, observed increased security presence, with operatives stationed at strategic points, including several ambush positions.
The Divisional Police Officer of Bwari Division, Babayola Musa, and the DPO of the Rapid Respond Squad, Zanna Maikudi, were seen leaving the area with their teams. After a brief conversation, they confirmed the development.
@Daily Trust