Suspected bandits in the late hours of Wednesday attacked an area in Mpape, a community in the Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they reportedly killed a security guard and abducted three persons including a pastor.
Mpape is located a few minutes’ drive from the Abuja highbrow district of Maitama, and also close to a military barracks, within the nation capital.
The attackers, who were said to have arrived the area some minutes before 11 pm, reportedly went to a new layout there known as Yellow House, targeting a particular home in the neighborhood.
“They didn’t succeed in breaking into the home when a police patrol team that had been alerted about the incident, arrived. They withdrew immediately just as they were exchanging gun shots with the security men to beat a retreat”, one of the sources narrated.
He explained that the attackers numbering about 10 on their way from the place came across a pastor who was returning home in the area and abducted him.
“They succeeded in abducting him from his own car, and also kidnapped two other residents along the road as they were fleeing the area. A car belonging to the pastor was later traced by the security men that was left behind along a road within the neighborhood”, said the source.
It was further learnt one other resident was shot around his leg by the attackers during the operation. The victim was later taken to the hospital by the police for medical attention.
Abuja Metro gathered that gun shots were later heard around the vicinity of the community that lasted up to 2am.
Efforts to get the reaction of the FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh proved abortive as she did not respond to phone call and Whatsapp message sent across to her.
Meanwhile, gunmen yet-to-be identified have killed Professor Gabriel Nyityo of the Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM) formerly known as Benue State University (BSU) and his younger brother, John Nyityo, at his residence in Adaka community, a suburb of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Our correspondent gathered that the victims were reportedly shot dead in the early hours of Wednesday by armed assailants who attacked the professor’s residence.
Nyityo, 58, a Professor of History, was said to have been killed alongside his 19-year-old younger brother, John.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Udeme Edet, on Wednesday night confirmed the incident to journalists in Makurdi.
She said that a report received by the command indicated that a Delta patrol team, alongside Operation Python personnel, responded to a distress call along the Adaka axis of Makurdi while on routine patrol.
Edet explained that on arrival at the scene, the operatives found two lifeless bodies identified as Prof. Gabriel Saawua Nyityo, 58, and his younger brother, Iorngee John Nyityo, 19, who were allegedly killed by unknown gunmen.
Meanwhile, the police in Benue have confirmed the arrest of a suspect in connection with the killing.
Police spokesperson, Edet, who confirmed the arrest, said arrested suspect hails from Nasarawa State.
“The suspect one Abdullahi Usman 23-year-old of Awe in Nasarawa State has been arrested in connection to the crime. Investigation is still ongoing to get the remaining suspect please,” she said.
Written with reports from Daily Trust