Suspected armed robbers numbering about six raided some residences off Second Avenue, NEPA Road, Setraco Gwarimpa, Abuja, on Christmas Eve, City News has learnt.
One of the victims and resident of the area, Mohammed Alfaki, a senior civil servant said the suspected robbers attacked him around 7:30pm while he was coming back from Gwarimpa market with his wife.
He said he was flagged down by a group of boys as soon as he got near the mosque.
“I thought something was wrong, so I decided to stop.
The next thing I saw was a gun pointed at my head. They asking me to bring out money otherwise I would be killed with my wife. I brought out everything I had with me and gave them.
“I remember I had only N2000. Two of the boys asked me to open my car, which I did. They entered the back seat, we got to my compound, and they warned that I should not make any noise or else they will kill us.
He said nobody noticed as the robbers pretended they were his guests.
“They robbed us of everything they could lay their hands on. They then came out and robbed other flats. The robbers stayed in our compound for more than an hour. There was no patrol team or the presence of the police throughout the robbery attack.
“After the attack, we called the police to inform them. The Divisional Police Officer sent an officer to check the number of things stolen and the police never came back again,” he lamented.
Amina Usman, a banker, also said when the suspected armed robbers knocked at her door, she was confused because she was not expecting any visitor that evening and when she saw one of the criminals carrying a gun, she assumed they were police patrol team trying to ask some questions.
“It dawned on me when they immediately commanded me to open my small gate. Out of fear, I did and they collected everything they could lay their hands on, including my phones, unspecified amount of money and my jewelry,” she said.
City News gathered that a trader in the area was also robbed of $5,000 and other valuables.
Our reporter learnt about five of the robbers entered his children’s room, tied their mouths and hands, then entered his own room and dragged him out of bed, threatening to kill him if he did not give them money. “I thought I was going to be killed as my wife was begging them to spare our lives but they slapped her and pushed her down,” he lamented.
Another victim, Tochukwu Anosike told City News that armed robbers came into his compound and stole five gas cylinders, seven generators and cash totaling about N200,000.
A police source confirmed the robbery attacks to our reporter, claiming that they have arrested most of the criminals terrorizing the area.
When the Gwarimpa divisional police officer was contacted, however he denied knowledge of the robbery but hinted that they have increased police presence in the area, especially at the entrance and exit points.
