A minimum of 9 residents have been abducted by gunmen at the Grow Homes Estate along Kuchibiyi situated in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The marauding gunmen numbering about 20 reportedly stormed the estate around 11:30pm on Friday night.
A residentidentified simply as Hassan told Daily Trust that the victims were abducted from two separate apartments inside the estate, adding that the incident caused great panic in the community.
He said, “Yesterday, (Friday), about 11:30pm, some gunmen in their large numbers came to carry out an operation at Grow Homes Estate along Kuchibiyi. We heard sounds of gunshots and there was panic in the entire community.
“This morning, we went to the estate and learnt that those gunmen were about 20. They moved from one apartment to another, dispossessing residents of their belongings. They also kidnapped at least 9, including children and women from two apartments in the estate.
“They escaped through the bush that links the community to Paze village. The police and the estate security have been searching the bush since morning to see if they could rescue the kidnapped residents.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson Abuja spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the police and the estate security have commenced combing bushes in the area in a bid to rescue the victims.
Adeh said, “Upon receipt of the distress call we immediately deployed our men to the scene. The suspects, however, abruptly suspended their operations and took some victims with them into the bush.
“Operatives of the police and the estate security are still combing the bushes in the area to ensure they are rescued.”
She urged residents of the area not to panic but to help the police with credible information that could lead to the arrest of the assailants.
“We urge the residents to remain calm and assist with useful information that could lead to the arrest of these criminals,” Adeh added.
