JUST IN: Bandits Abduct Teen Boy, Six Girls in Abuja Community

Bandits have abducted a 16-year-old boy and six girls from Gidan-Bijimi in Kawu ward, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The community borders Marke village near Kaduna state.

A local resident, Suleiman Shuaibu, confirmed that the attackers, armed with AK-47 rifles, raided two houses around 9:47 pm on Wednesday, taking the teenagers amid sporadic gunfire. Residents were thrown into panic as some vigilantes attempted to confront the bandits but were forced to retreat due to the attackers’ superior firepower. The abducted girls are reportedly between 17 and 23 years old.

Shuaibu added that the incident forced several residents to flee their homes, and there has been no contact with the kidnappers since the attack. Efforts to reach the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful.

The abduction comes just days after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike ordered heightened security across the capital, including increased surveillance at state borders and entry points. A joint military taskforce, comprising police, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies, has been deployed to enforce the directive. FCT Police Commissioner CP Miller G. Dantawaye had emphasized the need for coordination among security agencies and assured that sufficient logistics had been provided to safeguard residents.