Heavily armed attackers have abducted the traditional ruler of Dnako village in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, HRH Etsu Yuda Garba, along with two of his grandchildren and five other residents.
A community member, Mr. Tanko Baba, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, stating that the assailants invaded the village around 12:03 a.m. He identified the kidnapped children as Ephraim and Philemon.
According to Baba, the gunmen, armed with AK-47 rifles, raided four houses first, seizing five individuals before proceeding to the traditional ruler’s home.
Some of the attackers, disguised in military uniforms, broke in, seizing the chief and his sleeping grandchildren while firing gunshots.
One of the victims, Nicholas, had just returned from the hospital, where his wife had given birth, when he encountered the kidnappers.
“Nicholas, my cousin, had barely arrived home from the hospital when he ran into the gunmen,” Baba explained.
The assailants fled with their captives before security forces could arrive, though soldiers have since launched an operation to track them down.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack lasted nearly 30 minutes, with the kidnappers firing shots as they escaped, likely to deter any pursuit.
A police official in Bwari confirmed the incident but redirected inquiries to the FCT command.
However, efforts to reach the command’s spokesperson, Superintendent Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The attack has heightened security concerns in Bwari, where residents have repeatedly urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to take swift action to curb rising bandit activities.