The traditional ruler of Dnako village in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, HRH Etsu Yuda Garba, has been kidnapped alongside two of his grandchildren and five other community members.
A resident, Mr. Tanko Baba, confirmed the abduction on Tuesday, revealing that the assailants stormed the village at around 12:03 a.m. He identified the kidnapped grandchildren as Ephraim and Philemon.
According to Baba, the armed attackers, wielding AK-47 rifles, first targeted four homes, seizing five residents before advancing to the traditional ruler’s residence.
Some of the assailants, dressed in military-style uniforms, forcibly entered his home, capturing him and his sleeping grandchildren amid a barrage of gunfire.
Among the victims is Nicholas, who had just returned from the hospital where his wife had given birth when he ran into the kidnappers.
“Nicholas, my cousin, had barely arrived from the hospital when he encountered the attackers,” Baba recounted.
The gunmen managed to escape with their captives before soldiers reached the scene, though security forces have since launched a pursuit.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack lasted nearly 30 minutes, with the gunmen firing shots as they fled, likely to prevent any immediate chase.
A police source in Bwari confirmed the incident but referred inquiries to the FCT command for further details.
Meanwhile, attempts to reach the command’s spokeswoman, Superintendent Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
This latest attack adds to the growing security concerns in Bwari, where residents have repeatedly called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to take urgent action against banditry in the area.