Scores kidnapped in fresh mass abductions in Abuja

Some suspected gunmen in military uniforms, numbering about 50, invaded the Dawaki community located opposite the Gwarinpa Estate along Kubwa Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), kidnapping scores of people in the community.

The bandits, who were armed with various weapons, stormed the community at about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, and operated for about an hour without interference.

This invasion occurred after kidnappers also invaded Shagari Quarters in Dei-Dei, about five kilometers away on the same Kubwa Expressway, abducting the family of a Customs officer.

A resident of Dawaki, Hosea Christopher, confirmed the development, saying that the bandits abducted 17 residents from three houses on the street along Fulani Junction.

He said five of the abductees escaped while being taken towards a mountain on the outskirts of the area.

Hosea also explained that while the bandits were heading towards a forest around the Usuma Dam, they were confronted by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

“They immediately opened fire on the security men, but there was a corresponding response. Despite the fierce offensive by the DSS operatives, the bandits were able to escape,” he said.

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Another resident of the community, Abel James, who was among the people who escaped abduction, said the attackers wore uniforms and had face masks.

“But I doubted their genuineness when they started shooting sporadically. As they moved towards the community, I headed into a house under construction and climbed upstairs from where I kept watching their operation, with gunshots as they were leaving towards the hill.

“We later learned that two of the gunmen were captured by the security men, including DSS and soldiers who joined them later around the Usuma Dam, where the fire exchange took place,” he said.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, who confirmed the incident, said he led the rescue operation on Sunday around Ushafa-Shishipe through the Mpape hills.

Igweh said the operation followed a distress call after an attack on some residents of Dawaki by gunmen.

“We advanced towards the assailants, tactically ambushing them at Ushafa Hill via Bwari down to Shishipe, resulting in a fierce gun battle with the hoodlums, which forced them to flee with bullet wounds, and we rescued some of the abducted victims,” he said.

Igweh further revealed that the rescued victims are in the hospital receiving medical attention.