- Seven residents, including six girls and one boy, abducted from Gidan-Bijimi, Abuja.
- Attackers reportedly came from Abuja-Kaduna border, using firearms to intimidate locals.
- Abduction follows President Tinubu’s nationwide security emergency declaration.
- Government plans include recruiting 20,000 police and 30,000 military personnel to combat bandits.
Gunmen abducted seven people, including six girls and a 16-year-old boy, from Gidan-Bijimi village in the Kawu ward of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, on Wednesday night. The attack occurred just hours after President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency aimed at curbing the rising wave of banditry in Nigeria.
The attackers struck the village around 10 pm, opening fire indiscriminately before whisking away their victims. Residents described scenes of panic and terror, with gunshots echoing across the community.
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Suleiman Shuaibu, whose cousin was among the abducted, confirmed the identities of the victims, noting that the six girls were aged between 17 and 23. Local vigilantes attempted to resist the assailants but were quickly overpowered by the bandits’ superior firepower.
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The abduction comes less than 24 hours after President Tinubu announced a nationwide security emergency targeting states like Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi. His directive includes recruiting 20,000 new police officers and 30,000 military personnel, converting NYSC camps into training depots, and deploying the State Security Service to flush out bandits from forest hideouts.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, while security agencies have intensified efforts to rescue the kidnapped residents and prevent further attacks.
