Residents of Peze and Kugabonku communities in the Byazhin-Across area of Kubwa, a satellite town in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, have raised alarm over a surge in kidnappings by suspected terrorists.
Community members said gunmen had repeatedly invaded the area in recent weeks, abducting residents, including women and children, while moving from house to house.
A resident, Philip Ikechukwu, said at least 20 people were kidnapped within two weeks, noting that some victims were released after ransom payments. He added that a joint security patrol involving soldiers, police and civil defence personnel had been deployed to the area.
One victim’s father, Pastor Tony Anotu, said his four children—aged between six and 16—were abducted but later rescued by security forces without ransom. He described the ordeal as traumatic and appealed to the government to improve security in the area.
Village heads of the affected communities also confirmed multiple attacks, with one vigilante member reportedly killed during a raid. They urged authorities to establish a police station and military checkpoint to curb the growing insecurity.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command confirmed that a joint operation involving the police, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services and local vigilantes led to the rescue of 20 kidnapped victims.
According to police spokesperson Josephine Adeh, the operation followed intelligence that the kidnappers had fled into forests in neighbouring states. Security operatives engaged the criminals in a gun battle lasting over an hour, neutralising several suspects and arresting two others identified as Nura Sani and Abdul Bello.
Authorities said the rescued victims included 10 males and 10 females abducted from Byazhin District in Abuja as well as nearby communities in Niger State.
