A wave of terror swept through Chikakore, a peaceful community in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Sunday evening as over 20 heavily armed bandits launched a brutal attack, kidnapping five residents, including an entire family.
According to sources within the police, the assailants stormed the Health Centre extension area of Chikakore around 11 p.m. As they barged into the homes of their victims, they abducted a Southwesterner, Adesiyan Akinropo, his wife, and their young son, along with a visitor who had been staying with them. The gang also kidnapped a neighboring resident, bringing the total number of victims to five.
The attack left the community in shock as the bandits didn’t stop at the abductions; they also brutally assaulted a woman, striking her in the head with the butt of a gun. She sustained severe injuries and bled profusely, requiring immediate medical attention. Local sources confirmed that she was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Despite the gravity of the attack, the police from the Byzahin division only arrived at the scene long after the assailants had made their escape.
“The police came over an hour and a half after the bandits had already fled with their captives,” one resident told SaharaReporters, voicing their frustration over the delayed response. “We have been asking for a police division in this area for months now. We have land and even a fully built five-bedroom apartment ready to house the officers, but there has been no action. The bandits are taking advantage of our vulnerability.”
In the wake of the attack, community leaders and police officials scheduled a meeting for Monday to discuss the situation and explore possible solutions. However, residents expressed their concerns about the continued threats in the area, especially given the growing frequency of attacks.
This is not the first time the Chikakore community has fallen victim to such violence. Earlier in January, bandits fleeing from Kankara Local Government in Katsina State caused an explosion in the area, targeting an Islamic school in Kuchibuyi, Bwari Area Council. The blast tragically claimed the lives of at least two individuals.
As the community grapples with this latest wave of violence, there are increasing calls for more substantial police presence and urgent action to address the safety concerns of residents in this once-tranquil neighborhood.
Efforts to contact the FCT police command for an official response were unsuccessful, as spokesperson Josephine Adeh did not return calls for comment.
This brazen attack highlights the growing insecurity in Abuja’s outskirts, leaving residents questioning the authorities’ commitment to protecting vulnerable communities from rising criminal activity.
PIONEER NEWS 