Residents Flee Abuja Communities After Bandits Issue Threat Letter

Residents of Kungaboku and neighbouring Paze communities in the Federal Capital Territory have begun leaving their homes after suspected bandits issued a threat warning of planned attacks.

The warning was contained in a handwritten letter allegedly discovered inside a pupil’s school bag at a private school in Paze. According to residents, the attackers threatened to target both communities in retaliation for the killing of one of their commanders during a recent security operation.

On March 7, troops from the Nigerian Army’s 7 Guards Battalion working with police officers and local vigilantes carried out a search-and-rescue mission around Gidan Dogo in Bwari Area Council. Nineteen kidnapped victims—mostly from Kungaboku and Paze—were rescued during the operation.

Security sources said one suspected bandit was killed during the operation, while others fled with gunshot wounds. Troops also recovered an AK-47 rifle and a locally made firearm from the area.

The threat letter reportedly surfaced when a teacher discovered it while marking a pupil’s homework. Police later questioned the pupil, parents, the teacher and school authorities before releasing them.

News of the letter quickly circulated through community groups and social media, heightening fear among residents already dealing with a series of attacks in the area.

A day before the letter was discovered, gunmen attacked a Fulani settlement in Kungaboku, abducted three women and demanded a ransom of N70 million.

Kungaboku and Paze, located near Byazhin on the outskirts of Kubwa in Bwari Area Council, have experienced repeated security incidents in recent months.

In October 2025, veterinary doctor Ifeanyi Ogbu was abducted in Kungaboku along with his three children. He was later shot dead in a nearby field while the children were taken away.

Earlier this month, armed men also abducted retired military officer Bankole Ganiyu and three children during another attack in the community. His wife, a police officer, and two other children escaped.

On the same day, the attackers raided a nearby farm settlement, killed a vigilante member and kidnapped three workers.

Residents of Paze say gunmen have also been moving from settlement to settlement carrying out kidnappings. At least 12 people, including women and children, have been abducted in the past two weeks.

Among the victims are four children of a pastor and the wife and sister of a vigilante leader. In one case, kidnappers reportedly left a baby behind.

In response to the latest threat, the Byazhin Divisional Police Officer held a security meeting with residents on Saturday at the palace of the Kungaboku community head, Chief Ishaya Jagaba.

Police confirmed the existence of the threat letter and assured residents that additional security measures were being introduced.

Residents were urged to monitor new arrivals in the community, regulate the activities of commercial motorcyclists and scavengers, and support efforts to establish a police post in the area.

Security patrols are also expected to increase as authorities attempt to prevent further attacks.

Despite the assurances, many residents remain anxious, with several homes already deserted as families wait to see whether the promised security measures will hold.