A 16-year-old boy and six young girls have been abducted from Gidan-Bijimi in Kawu Ward of Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
The quiet community, which borders Marke village near Kaduna State, was thrown into chaos on Wednesday night.
Residents in Fear After Night Raid
A resident, Suleiman Shuaibu, confirmed the kidnapping during a phone call on Thursday morning.
He said armed bandits carrying AK-47 rifles stormed two houses at about 9:47 pm and took away the teenagers.
The victims include a 16-year-old boy and six girls aged between 17 and 23 years.
According to him, the attackers fired several gunshots, forcing people to run for safety.
Shuaibu explained that community vigilantes attempted to confront the bandits but were overpowered by their heavier firepower.
He added that many residents were terrified and fled their homes after the attack.
He also said there had been no contact with the kidnappers.
Family Members Among Victims
“It was around 9:53 pm when a call came from Gidan-Bijimi that bandits invaded the village and abducted six young girls. Unfortunately, my cousin sister happened to be among the victims,” he said.
Attempts to get comments from SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, were unsuccessful.
She did not answer phone calls or reply to text messages at the time of filing the report.
Security Tightened Across Abuja
The incident happened shortly after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, ordered tighter security around Abuja.
He directed security agencies to increase surveillance at all borders and major entry points.
Following the directive, a joint operation involving the police, DSS, military, and other agencies was deployed across the capital.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, told the team to work together and stop criminal activities in the territory.
He said the minister had provided the needed logistics to support the operation and keep residents safe.