A few hours after dozens of motorcycle patrols were deployed to FCT outskirts, suspected gunmen have reportedly invaded Piko, a remote community in Bwari Area Council of Abuja, and kidnapped 13 people in a deadly operation that allegedly lasted over an hour.
It was learnt that the attack occurred on Sunday night, May 5, 2024, at around 11 pm, without any challenge from security agencies or the vigilante group.
The Maidakin of the community, Chief John Jatau, confirmed that 10 residents were kidnapped from his domain, including four nomadic Fulani herdsmen. But one of the Fulani victims escaped from the kidnappers’ custody.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N900 million, and the community is still reeling from the shock, a source told The Guardian, adding that the victims were taken from their homes, while the community faced challenges in communicating with the outside world due to a lack of telecommunication network in the village.
The kidnapped victims from the community include Nuhu Anyiwoyi, Emmanuel Nuhu, Danjuma Ali, Parisa Numa, Ezekiel Jatau Shekwosa Ezekiel, Roseline Samuel, Salome Jacob, Abyelo Ezra, and Ezra Male.
The community is still in a state of apprehension.
Kidnapping had subsided in the federal capital territory after the Commissioner of Police laid manhunt on them. Some of the were caught alive, while some others died during gun exchanges with the police.
The latest return of abduction in Abuja has elicited reactions from various quarters.
The spokesperson of FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, could not confirm the incident as of the time of filing this report.