It was another sleepless night for residents of Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse-Alhaji, located on the outskirts of Abuja, the nation’s capital, as gunmen struck on Sunday to abduct no fewer than 10 persons from the area.
According to witnesses, the kidnappers, dressed like herders, with some donning military camouflage, stormed the estate around 7:30 0 clock to carryout the operation in a commando-like style.
Reports said that in the process, the bandits abducted eight persons from the estate while also picking up two members of staff from a nearby hotel operating within the area.
Insiders’ reports hinted that one of the victims had initially sent a distress message to the Estate’s WhatsApp group, indicating his family was in danger.
However, he stopped responding to messages a few minutes after raising the alarm about the criminal invasion.
Informed sources disclosed that the residents of the affected Estate had before this latest attack alerted security operatives to the frequency of these threats to their life and property by the criminal gangs.
The sources said though there was no prompt action to stop Sunday’s attack, the relevant security agencies have now been mobilised and are working with the Estate security guards to comb the sprawling hills located behind the Estate for possible lead and traces of the criminal gang.
Meanwhile, reports have also emerged that one of the security operatives, thoroughly beaten and tied by the abductors, was rescued and is assisting the Police in their investigation.
A Police insider also hinted that when the emergency call came through with information on the attack, the DPO closest to the incident scene was immediately contacted to mobilise men and required resources in order to repel the invasion.
However, the source could not tell how successful the Police operation went in checking the invaders.
As of press time, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Josephine Adeh, had yet to issue an official statement on the incident and efforts to reach her have so far not been successful
