Gunmen have abducted four residents and killed a vigilante during an attack on the Byazhin community in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A resident, Aliyu, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, adding that the attackers were heavily armed and operated in large numbers.
According to him, about 28 gunmen stormed the community, raising suspicions that they may have camped nearby before launching the attack.
“The attack happened in the early hours of Thursday. The gunmen were about 28. I think they might have camped in the area before they struck. Four residents were taken into the bush, while a vigilante guarding the community was shot from behind and later died from the gunshot wound,” he said.
A security source, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the slain vigilante had since been buried.
The source added that a joint team of security operatives, including the military, police and local vigilantes, had launched a search-and-rescue operation to secure the release of the abducted residents and track down the attackers.
“It is true. The vigilante has been buried. The military, police and vigilantes have mobilised and are already in the bush searching for the criminals and working to rescue the victims,” the source said.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone line did not connect as of the time of filing this report.
The Byazhin area of Kubwa, a rapidly growing suburb of the FCT, has witnessed a series of security challenges in recent times, prompting renewed concerns among residents and intensified security operations in the area.
