Residents of Kubwa in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory were thrown into panic overnight after suspected gunmen abducted 16 people during a raid on a residential estate.
The victims reportedly include the wife of a local vigilante and four children belonging to a pastor, according to early accounts from residents.
Sources said the attackers stormed the estate under the cover of darkness, rounding up residents before whisking them away to an unknown destination. No fatalities were reported during the incident.
Local residents described the attack as terrifying, saying the gunmen operated for several minutes before escaping without confrontation.
Authorities are yet to officially confirm the incident as of press time, but security agencies are expected to launch search-and-rescue operations to track down the abductors and free the victims.
The latest abduction has heightened concerns over growing insecurity around Abuja, particularly in the satellite town of Kubwa, where residents say kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly frequent.
The development adds to mounting fears about security across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and the Federal Capital Territory.
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