Gunmen Kidnap 13 In Abuja Community, Demand N900m Ransom

Abuja, Nigeria- Suspected gunmen have invaded a community in the Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), kidnapped 13 people, and demanded a ransom of N900 million.

The attack on the Piko Community occurred barely a week after a similar invasion by gunmen on the Bmuko community in the same Bwari area council, where four residents were kidnapped and are still being held by their captors.

It was gathered that the incident which occurred on Sunday, May 5, 2024, lasted for over an hour, without any challenge from either the vigilante group or other security agencies.

A close source to the community said that the Maidakin of the community, Chief John Jatau has confirmed that 10 residents were kidnapped from his domain, including 4 nomadic Fulani herdsmen.

He noted that out of the four Fulani people, one escaped from the kidnappers’ custody.

He further disclosed that Maidakin said the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N900 million.

He identified some of the victims as; Nuhu Anyiwoyi, Emmanuel Nuhu, Danjuma Ali, Parisa Numa, Ezekiel Jatau, Shekwosa Ezekiel, Roseline Samuel, Salome Jacob, Abyelo Ezra, and Ezra Male

“The kidnapping incident occurred last night Sunday 05/05/2024, at about 11 pm. The kidnappers raided the village for about one hour without any response, or reaction from the community or outsiders, the major challenge the community faced last night in terms of communication to others was as a result of no telecommunication network in the village, so they picked people’s house to house, from the community they picked about 13 people, and later release three,” he narrated.

“The Madakin Piko informed me that they (gunmen) have called and they said they need the ramson of N900,000,000 (nine hundred million naira). They picked about four Fulani people and one of them is released.”