Tension gripped residents of Grow Homes Estate in the Chikakore axis of Kubwa in the early hours of Monday as armed kidnappers stormed the community, holding several residents hostage and abducting two individuals.
The attack, which occurred between midnight and 1:30 a.m., saw the gang overpowering the local vigilante team and operating within the estate for over an hour. One eyewitness revealed that a man and a woman were taken away by the assailants. However, by dawn, the woman was mysteriously found within the estate—reportedly released by her captors for reasons still unknown.
“The attack started around midnight. The kidnappers were heavily armed and overwhelmed our local security. Police arrived about an hour later and there was a serious exchange of gunfire that lasted close to 30 minutes,” a resident recounted.
Frustrated by the delayed security response, residents have renewed calls for the government to improve road access to the estate and establish a nearby police station to ensure swift intervention in future emergencies.
“We need better roads for patrol vehicles and a permanent security presence here,” another resident urged.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has confirmed that one of the two abducted individuals has been successfully rescued through a coordinated effort involving anti-kidnapping units, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilante groups.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, the police disclosed that a search-and-rescue operation is still ongoing to locate the second victim.
“Our operatives, in collaboration with sister security agencies, are actively combing the area to secure the safe release of the remaining abductee,” the statement noted.
Security has been tightened in the area, and investigations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.
