Armed gunmen in the early hours of Thursday attacked the Paze community in the Byazhin area of Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), killing a local security guard and abducting four residents, including a pastor.
The attackers, believed to be about eight in number, reportedly shot and killed a vigilante, Shuaibu Yerima, who had been hired to help secure the neighbourhood, popularly known as the “Back of Catholic Church” area.
Among those abducted were Pastor Francis Oriade of the All Christian Fellowship Mission (ACFM), Maitama, Abuja; Jewel Obeh; Friday Isaac; and an 11-year-old boy, Delight Okeke.
The latest incident comes less than a week after suspected bandits reportedly kidnapped a resident of the nearby Kungabokun community.
Speaking about the attack, Emmanuel Isaac, younger brother of one of the victims, said the gunmen arrived shortly after midnight.
He explained that residents first heard a gunshot, believed to have been the one that killed the security guard, before the attackers moved into their compound.
“We saw about four of them carrying guns. Another man who appeared to be their leader wore a mask. We tried to escape through the back door, but they surrounded us and forced us back inside,” he said.
According to him, the attackers tied both him and his elder brother before deciding to take one of them away.
“They initially wanted me to go with them, but my brother pleaded to take my place, and they agreed,” he added.
Emmanuel said police officers arrived in the area about ten minutes after the kidnappers had left.
“We pointed out the direction the kidnappers went and asked the police to pursue them, but they said they would take a different route,” he said.
Elizabeth Oriade, younger sister of the abducted pastor, said the gunmen forced their way into the house through a window after failing to break down the door.
“We heard gunshots around midnight, and about twenty minutes later they entered the house,” she said.
She explained that the attackers found them hiding in the toilet and dragged Pastor Oriade from his room.
“They slapped him repeatedly, accusing him of delaying them because he didn’t open the door immediately. They tied our hands with a wrapper, collected our phones and some cash, and then took him away,” she recounted.
Mrs. Joy Alex, whose husband, Jewel Obeh, was among those kidnapped, said the family had only just returned home shortly before the attack.
She explained that she had spent over an hour looking for their house key before eventually gaining access to the house.
“Barely an hour after we got inside, the gunmen arrived. They removed a window using tools and entered the house,” she said.
“Initially, they wanted to take my daughter, but they eventually decided to abduct my husband instead.”
The mother of the abducted 11-year-old boy, Mrs. Erenta Okeke, also described her ordeal.
She said the attackers entered through a window and demanded money while pointing a gun at her.
“My husband was not at home. They decided to take my son after I pleaded with them to spare his younger sister, who was terrified throughout the incident,” she said.
Residents said the slain vigilante was initially shot in the leg but died from excessive bleeding after help did not arrive in time.
He was buried on Thursday following funeral prayers held at the palace of the Chief of Ijayapi, located within the Byazhin community.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, said she would investigate the matter and provide an update. However, no official response had been received as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, police officers were seen meeting with members of the affected community at the Byazhin Police Division.
A senior officer at the division, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the attack and said security operatives had launched efforts to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
