Bandits abduct seven in fresh Abuja night raid despite new FCTA security measures

Bandits Abduct Seven in Fresh Abuja Night Raid Despite New FCTA Security Measures

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory were thrown into panic on Wednesday night as bandits staged yet another violent assault in the outskirts of Abuja, abducting six young girls and a 16-year-old boy from Gidan-Bijimi, a settlement in Kawu ward near the Bwari Area Council.

The incident occurred barely a week after a police officer was shot dead during a similar attack in the Guto area of Bwari, underscoring the escalating insecurity in Abuja and the growing audacity of armed groups operating along the volatile FCT–Kaduna corridor.

Kawu, which shares a boundary with Kaduna State, lies close to the notorious Gidan Dogo and Kweti forests, long identified as transit routes and hideouts for criminal gangs. Gidan-Bijimi itself borders Marke village, a zone that has witnessed a resurgence of attacks in recent months.

According to residents, the latest abduction unfolded around 9:47 pm when heavily armed gunmen stormed two homes, firing shots into the air before escaping with their captives. A local resident, Suleiman Shuaibu, confirmed that the abducted girls were aged between 17 and 23, adding that his cousin was among the victims.

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Shuaibu said members of the community’s vigilance group attempted to repel the attackers but were forced to retreat due to the criminals’ superior firepower. Many residents fled into nearby bushes, while others remained indoors until dawn. As of Thursday morning, there had been no communication from the kidnappers, and the police had yet to officially comment.

Last week, the FCT Police Command reported that about 30 gunmen invaded Guto, killing a police officer and kidnapping a resident and his family. Two of the attackers were reportedly neutralised.

The repeated assaults have intensified concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Bwari and neighbouring communities bordering Kaduna and Niger states — widely considered vulnerable entry points for armed groups inching closer to Abuja.

In response, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday announced new security measures following an expanded meeting of the FCT Security Council chaired by Minister Nyesom Wike. Briefing journalists, FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, said the government had fully activated Operation Sweep, a reorganised multi-agency operation designed to tackle emerging threats.

The operation has now been divided into four major sectors covering Gwagwalada, Bwari, and two expansive security corridors stretching across the city centre from Berger and Wuse to Karu, Mararaba, Karshi and Orozo. The minister has reportedly provided “adequate logistics” to support joint deployment of police, military, DSS, Civil Defence, FRSC, Immigration, Correctional Service and other security outfits.

Despite these reforms, Wednesday’s abduction highlights the persistent vulnerability of remote communities and the widening reach of criminal elements. Residents say they now live in constant fear, urging the government to take decisive action to rescue the victims and halt what many describe as a slide into daily terror.

Bandits abduct seven in fresh Abuja night raid despite new FCTA security measures