Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted no fewer than 16 persons, including four children of a pastor and the wife of a vigilante member, during an overnight attack in a community within the Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Residents said the incident occurred late Thursday night when the armed men stormed the area, firing sporadically to scare residents before whisking away their victims.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the attackers targeted several houses in the community and forcefully took away the victims after breaking into the buildings.
According to a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the gunmen abducted the four children belonging to a local pastor, as well as the wife of a member of the community vigilante group.
“The attackers came in large numbers and started shooting into the air. People ran in different directions to save their lives. They went straight to some houses and took away many people,” the resident said.
Another resident said the victims included men, women and children, bringing the total number of abducted persons to about 16.
Community members said the attack caused panic across the area as residents fled their homes for safety.
Local sources added that the vigilante member whose wife was abducted had earlier been involved in community security efforts aimed at protecting residents from criminal activities.
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives had reportedly been alerted to the incident, while efforts were ongoing to track the attackers and rescue the victims.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a major security concern in several parts of the Nigeria, including communities around the Abuja, where criminal groups often target residents in night raids.
Security agencies have repeatedly assured the public of intensified operations to tackle banditry and kidnapping across the country.
However, residents continue to call for stronger security presence and improved surveillance in vulnerable communities within the Federal Capital Territory.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Nigeria Police Force were ongoing at the time of this report.
