Bandits have abducted a 16-year-old boy and six young women during a late-night attack on Gidan-Bijimi in Kawu ward, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
The incident, confirmed on Thursday by Daily Trust, occurred near the Kaduna border. Residents said the attackers, armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed two houses at about 9:47 p.m. on Wednesday, firing repeatedly before whisking away the victims.
A resident, Suleiman Shuaibu, told the newspaper that the girls taken are between 17 and 23 years old. He confirmed that one of the victims is his cousin.
“The call came around 9:53 p.m. that bandits had invaded Gidan-Bijimi and taken six girls. Unfortunately, my cousin sister is among them,” he said.
Shuaibu added that local vigilantes attempted to resist the attackers but were overpowered by their superior firepower. The invasion threw the community into panic, forcing some residents to flee overnight.
As of Thursday morning, no contact had been established with the abductors.
The attack comes days after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike dismissed claims of worsening insecurity in Abuja and suspended the FCT education mandate secretary for issuing a school closure directive over security concerns.
