There has been palpable tension in Kuje Area Council of the FCT as kidnappers raided seven rural communities in the council, abducting scores of villagers within three weeks.
City & Crime reports that some of the communities raided within the last three weeks by the kidnappers included Godoji, Shazyi, Kiyi, Gbau, Kusaki, Pavu, Sauka extension as well as Anguwar Gede extension all in Kuje area council.
It was also gathered the kidnappers invaded a neighboring Cheti village in Kabusa ward of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), in which some residents were abducted.
A resident of Godoji, Ishaya Musa, who spoke with our reporter on Sunday, said several villagers were kidnapped across the rural communities by the invaders.
He said the attack by the kidnappers had created serious fear among residents of the communities, a situation he said has forced some villagers to relocate to stay with their relatives in Kuje town.
“Some residents in rural communities in Kuje, such as Godoji, Shazyi, Kiyi, Gbau, Kusaki, among other neighbouring villages under siege of kidnappers within the past three have been abducted,” he said.
Another resident of Kiyi, Barnabas Issac, also said kidnappers invaded the community twice last week and abducted some residents.
City & Crime recalled that not until now, some villages within Kuje council had not witnessed attacks for some months, with the residents thanking God.
Meanwhile, 16 villagers were again abducted in a fresh attack at Gaye village in Kwaku ward of Kuje Area Council.
A resident of Kwaku, Usman Danlami, said the incident happened around 11pm on Friday when the kidnappers invaded the community and whisked away 16 residents including four women.
He said, “Though three among the 16 victims were freed after trekking some distance away from the village and were asked to go and be preparing to source for ransom.
It was also gathered that the kidnappers invaded residents of Anguwar Gede extension last week, where a business man, identified as Alhaji Abubakar, was said to have been kidnapped.
A resident, Ibrahim Yakima, said the business man was later freed after an undisclosed ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
“Even after the kidnappers released the man, they returned again last week in an attempt to kidnap some residents within the same area but for the quick intervention of the vigilantes, who repelled the attack which forced them to fled,” he said.
It could also be recalled that kidnappers shot and killed a class teacher, Musa Abari, and abducted his pregnant wife, Hulaira, along with five villagers at Kasada village in Gaube ward of Kuje Area Council and the abducted victims were still in captivity.
There was no official response from the spokeswoman of the FCT police command, DSP Adeh Josephine, as at the time of filing the report last night.
