Suspected kidnappers invaded a residential area near the Quarry area of Arab Road in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday, abducting one resident and shooting another.
The attack occurred between 11pm on Saturday and midnight on Sunday, our correspondent gathered.
Our correspondent on Monday gathered that the resident who was alleged to have been shot later died in the hospital on Sunday.
Speaking in a telephone interview with PUNCH Metro on Monday, the secretary of the community, identified only as Dairo, said residents were alerted to the attack by the sound of gunfire as the assailants reportedly entered the community through a nearby hill.
“We started hearing gunshots, and the house is towards the hill. From what I was told, because my house is not too far, the local security tried to repel them in a gun battle,” he said.
Dairo explained that despite resistance from local security operatives, the attackers succeeded in entering the victim’s apartment.
“While they were doing that, they were able to enter the guy’s apartment. They shot him and took his younger brother away,” the secretary narrated.
He added that police officers arrived shortly after the attack, but the kidnappers had already escaped with the victim.
“Not too long. I think the police came around past 12 to 1. Before the police could come around, they had gone with the guy. They came in through the hill and went back through the hill,” he said.
The community secretary described the incident as the third successful kidnapping in the area in recent years.
“This is the third time kidnappers have come to the community through the hill,” he said.
He recalled that a previous kidnapping incident occurred around 2021 or 2022, during which a corps member was abducted and a resident identified as Mr Oshodi was killed.
Dairo also noted that another resident was kidnapped in May last year and was released after paying ransom.
He disclosed that suspected kidnappers had attempted to enter the community two or three weeks earlier but were repelled by local security personnel.
“Two, three weeks ago, they came, but they could not enter because of the local security presence before they came on Saturday,” he said.
Dairo said the community had established a local security network comprising vigilantes and hunters to safeguard residents.
“We were able to set up our local security men, the vigilantes and the hunters. They are the ones guiding the community,” he added.
The secretary called on the government and security agencies to establish a police station or increase patrol operations in the area.
“If the government can come and set up a police station or a patrol, they’ll be moving around every day. Once they see the presence of security personnel around, I think that will scare them away,” he said.
Also speaking, another resident, who did not want to be named, said, “The boy is dead; he didn’t make it. May his soul rest in peace. The one taken to the hospital by the police,” the resident said.
Efforts to get a reaction from the FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, were not successful, as calls to her number indicated it was not reachable.
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