Security tensions have escalated in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory following a brazen nighttime attack by armed bandits that resulted in the abduction of seven young people from a community in Bwari Area Council.
Night Raid in Gidan-Bijimi
According to local reports confirmed by residents, AK-47-wielding terrorists stormed the Gidan-Bijimi community in Kawu ward on Wednesday night, November 26. The assailants targeted two houses during the coordinated attack, whisking away six young girls and one 16-year-old boy amid sporadic gunfire that terrified residents.
Suleiman Shuaibu, a resident of Kawu who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, revealed the disturbing details of the kidnapping. The abducted girls were between 17 and 23 years old, adding to the growing list of kidnapping victims in the region.
Failed Resistance and Community Impact
Local vigilante groups attempted to confront the bandits but were forced to retreat due to the attackers' superior firepower. The failed resistance highlights the ongoing challenge communities face against well-armed criminal elements operating in the area.
The attack has created significant panic among residents, with many fleeing their homes following the incident. Shuaibu disclosed that his own cousin was among the victims, emphasizing the personal toll such attacks take on close-knit communities.
Contact has yet to be established with the kidnappers, leaving families in agonizing uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones. The police response remains unclear as Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, had not responded to calls or text messages at the time of reporting.
Broader Security Context
This latest abduction occurs against the backdrop of Nigeria's worsening security situation. In response to rising threats, President Bola Tinubu declared a security emergency on Wednesday evening and ordered the army and police to recruit more personnel.
Security analyst Bulama Bukarti explained the economic motives behind such kidnapping attacks, particularly in northwest and north-central Nigeria. "What these gangs do normally is to keep these children in captivity for weeks, sometimes months, and extort ransoms from either their families or from the government," Bukarti told Al Jazeera.
The security expert noted that ransoms can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars before victims are released, making kidnapping a lucrative criminal enterprise for armed groups.
This incident follows a similar pattern of attacks in the region, including the recent abduction of eight people from Biresawa village in Kano state, indicating a troubling trend of expanding bandit activity in northern Nigeria.
