By TAIYE AGBAJE

Residents of Peze and Kungabokun communities in Byazhin-Across area of Kubwa, a satellite town in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Sunday, shared harrowing accounts of kidnappings in the area.

They said that suspected armed terrorists, in their numbers, had continued to attack the area, bordered by hills and bushes, kidnapping residents, including women and children, and moving from house to house.

Some of the residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the repeated attacks have heightened their fear, calling on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action on the deteriorating security situation in the area.

A resident, Philip Ikechukwu, said that no fewer than 20 people had been kidnapped within two weeks in the area.

“We have been living in fear here. These people (terrorists) have been coming to raid us shooting guns and abducting men, women and even children, going from house to house.

“The kidnapping started two weeks ago and not less than 20 people have been kidnapped, although some escaped while a man and a woman that were kidnapped at one time paid N500, 000 ransom before their release.

” I heard that a pastor’s four children and others who were kidnapped on Tuesday had been rescued by the security personnel,” he said.

Ikechukwu said a joint security patrol of soldiers, police and civil defence officers had been on ground in the area to checkmate further attack.

He, however, said since the Byazhin Divisional Police Station is far from the community, there is a need to have a police station in the area.

Chief Kalu Uma, who lives at Ijayapi, a community next to Peze, said kidnapping has become rampant recently in the area.

“I am 29 years in this community. It is of recent we begin to experience this menace.

“Today, it is here; tomorrow, it is there and we are worried about the development,” he said.

When asked the number of kidnapped cases that had occurred in the area, Uma said; “From information reaching me through rumour, some would say about 15 had so far been kidnapped, some would say about 20, although I am not very sure. ”

Uma, who said the environment is becoming more porous, urged the Federal Government to strengthen security in the area.

Pastor Tony Anotu of the Revival Family Church, whose four children were kidnapped on Tuesday, March 3, and rescued on Saturday, said the experience was an harrowing one.

According to him, the kidnappers left my baby of about three and a half years.

He said throughout the period of his children’s hostage, he couldn’t sleep.

“Each time I want to sleep, I will just see their pictures and woke up. I would be thinking what would be their feelings inside the forest.

“It was not an easy experience,” he said pensively.

Anotu, who confirmed that his four children within the age range of 6 to 16 years were rescued by the security personnel, said he did not pay any ransom.

He equally confirmed that his children were rescued alongside a vigilante’s wife and her sister who were abducted in the area on the same day.

“They had kidnapped the wife of the vigilante head who was exchanging guns with them. The gunmen left her two months’ old baby but went with her sister that came to help her,” he said. Said.

He called on President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to come to their rescue.

For Chief Saidu Ibrahim, the Village Head of Peze Community, the continued attack was devastating.

“Since last week, there are people (gunmen) who have been coming here to kidnap our people.

“Then, released them on Sunday (last Sunday) after paying almost N500, 000 (as ransom).

“We discovered that there is informant in this community because if there is no informant, strangers cannot just enter the community and begin such operations.

“On Tuesday this week around evening, they entered the community again and began to release the bullets and they took about seven people and escaped with them.” He said.

He said in Kugabonku community which is next to his, a vigilante officer was killed by the terrorists and a number of persons kidnapped same Tuesday, March 3.

He said Peze and Kugabonku are under the same ward in Byazhin Community.

He said at least 16 people had been kidnapped within the period.

Chief Ibrahim, who said a letter had been written to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police area command on the need to have security base in the area, said the community is no longer safe.

“We need a checkpoint by the military here and we need a police station.

“If there is a police station or military checkpoint here, it will help the community,” he said.

Also speaking, Chief Jagaba Ishaya, the Village Head of Kugabonku community, described the recent kidnapping in his environment as “worrisome.”

He said about three people were kidnapped at a former naval officer’s residence, while four others abducted at a poultry farm on Tuesday.

“The gunmen abducted Oga Navy and his two daughters. Then at the barrister’s farm where he has a poultry, a vigilante officer was killed and four people were kidnapped,” he said.

Chief Ishaya, who spoke through an interpreter, Prince Timothy, his son, said the area needs a police station.

He also urged the government to support members of the vigilante group in the area to function effectively.

“You cannot go and face a person who is coming with AK-47 with inferior weapon. This has been our challenge. Therefore, they need to be empowered,” he said.

Mathew Samuel, a member of the Vigilante group at Kugabonku, narrated his experience with the gunmen.

He called on the government to support their effort in combating the menace.

NAN observes the deployment of military, police and civil defence officers at the area.

The Byazhin DPO, Christopher Owujie, when contacted refused to comment on the incident.

Rather, he referred NAN to the FCT Police Command PRO, Josephine Adeh.

However, an officer at Byazhin station, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said police officers had intensified security surveillance at the affected areas.

“There have been kidnap cases at area and for the past one week, the police have not rested.

“Our men have been working day and night,” he said.

In a telephone chat with the command PRO, SP Adeh, she said classified information about what the security agencies are doing cannot be revealed to members of the public.

Adeh, who said the kidnap victims had been rescued through the joint effort of the police, the military and DSS, said some of the terrorists were neutralised, while some escaped with bullet wounds and two were arrested during a gun battle.

She said a press statement had been released to the effect.

In the statement, Adeh said: “Police personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Army Guards Brigade, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes, between March 6 and 7, commenced a coordinated search and rescue operation.

This, follows credible intelligence that criminals fleeing from ongoing security operations in Gauraka Forest, Niger, had crossed into Gidan Dogo and Kweri Forests in Kaduna State with kidnapped victims.

“Acting on the intelligence, the Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led the combined tactical team into the forest in pursuit of the suspected criminals.

“Upon approaching their hideout, the suspects opened fire on the operatives, resulting in an intense gun duel that lasted over one hour and thirty minutes.

“Through superior tactics and firepower, the operatives successfully subdued the kidnappers.

“Suspects were neutralised during the exchange, while two others identified as Nura Sani and Abdul Bello were arrested.

“Other members of the gang escaped with gunshot wounds into the surrounding forest and hills.

“The operation led to the successful rescue of twenty (20) kidnapped victims comprising ten (10) males and ten (10) females who were earlier abducted from Byazhin District of the FCT, as well as Gauraka and Tafa areas of Niger State.” (NAN)

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