Fresh Bandit Attack Rocks FCT Community, Seven Youths Abducted
Armed bandits have struck again in the Federal Capital Territory, abducting six young girls and a 16-year-old boy during a brazen late-night raid on Gidan-Bijimi settlement in Bwari Area Council. The attack occurred barely a week after a police officer was killed in nearby Guto community, raising serious concerns about the deteriorating security situation in FCT border communities.
Details of the Night Raid
The terrifying incident unfolded around 9:47 pm on Wednesday when armed men wielding AK-47 rifles stormed two homes in Gidan-Bijimi, a settlement within Kawu ward. Witnesses reported that the attackers fired repeatedly into the air before escaping with their seven victims.
According to Suleiman Shuaibu, a resident of Kawu who confirmed the abduction, the kidnapped girls were between 17 and 23 years old. "I got a call around 9:53 pm that bandits had invaded the village. They abducted six young girls. Unfortunately, my cousin sister is among the victims," Shuaibu revealed, noting that a teenage boy was also taken during the raid.
The location of the attack highlights the vulnerability of communities along the FCT-Kaduna corridor. Kawu ward borders Kaduna State and sits close to the Gidan Dogo and Kweti forests - areas long known as transit routes and hideouts for criminal gangs operating in the region.
Security Response and Community Fear
Local vigilance group members attempted to confront the gunmen but were forced to withdraw due to the attackers' superior firepower. The incident caused panic among residents, with many fleeing into nearby bushes while others hid indoors until morning.
As of Thursday, there had been no contact from the kidnappers, and police had yet to officially confirm the incident. This latest abduction comes just days after gunmen invaded Guto, another boundary community in Bwari, where about 30 attackers attempted to kidnap a family. That earlier incident resulted in two assailants being killed and a policeman losing his life.
Government Security Measures
In response to rising security anxieties, the Federal Capital Territory Administration announced fresh security measures following an expanded meeting of the FCT Security Council chaired by Minister Nyesom Wike.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, revealed that the council had fully activated Operation Sweep, a multi-agency security response reorganized to tackle emerging threats. The operation now covers four major sectors, including:
- Gwagwalada
- Bwari
- Corridors stretching across the city centre from Berger and Wuse
- Areas through Karu, Mararaba, Karshi and Orozo
According to Commissioner Dantawaye, the minister has provided "adequate logistics" for joint deployment of personnel from multiple security agencies including the police, military, DSS, NSCDC, FRSC, Immigration Service, and Correctional Service.
Despite these measures, Wednesday night's attack underscores the vulnerability of remote communities and the growing audacity of criminal groups pushing toward the capital. Residents expressed living in constant fear and appealed for urgent action to rescue the victims and halt what many described as a slide into daily terror.
