Suspected gunmen attacked a residential area close to the Quarry on Arab Road in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja, on Saturday. They kidnapped one person and shot another during the incident.
The attack happened between 11pm on Saturday and midnight on Sunday, according to our source.
The resident who was shot later died in the hospital on Sunday, our source reported.
In a phone interview with PUNCH Metro on Monday, the community secretary, who goes by Dairo, said residents heard gunfire as the attackers entered through a nearby hill.
"We started hearing gunshots, and the house is towards the hill. From what I was told, because my house is not too far, the local security tried to repel them in a gun battle," he explained.
Dairo said that despite the local security's efforts, the attackers managed to get into the victim's home.
"While they were doing that, they were able to enter the guy’s apartment. They shot him and took his younger brother away," he narrated.
He added that police officers arrived shortly after but the kidnappers had already escaped with the victim.
"Not too long. I think the police came around past 12 to 1. Before the police could come around, they had gone with the guy. They came in through the hill and went back through the hill," he said.
Dairo mentioned that this is the third kidnapping in the area in recent years.
"This is the third time kidnappers have come to the community through the hill," he stated.
He recalled a similar incident in 2021 or 2022 when a corps member was abducted and a local man named Mr Oshodi was killed.
Dairo also shared that another resident was kidnapped in May last year and was released after ransom was paid.
He noted that suspected kidnappers tried to enter the community two or three weeks ago but were stopped by local security.
"Two, three weeks ago, they came, but they could not enter because of the local security presence before they came on Saturday," he said.
Dairo said the community formed a local security group made up of vigilantes and hunters to protect residents.
"We were able to set up our local security men, the vigilantes and the hunters. They are the ones guiding the community," he added.
The secretary urged the government and security agencies to set up a police station or increase patrols in the area.
"If the government can come and set up a police station or a patrol, they’ll be moving around every day. Once they see the presence of security personnel around, I think that will scare them away," he said.
Another local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "The boy is dead; he didn’t make it. May his soul rest in peace. The one taken to the hospital by the police," the resident added.
Attempts to contact the FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful as her phone was unreachable.
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