Bandits abducted more than 23 residents from three housing estates in Dei-Dei a town located off Kubwa-Zuba Road in the Federal Capital Territory over the weekend.
A similar incident occurred the next day in the nearby Arab Road residential area in Kubwa, where seven residents were abducted.
The kidnappers, reportedly dressed in military uniform, conducted their operations quietly.
A resident of the livestock layout area in Dei-Dei, Aminatu Mustapha, narrated her ordeal to Daily Trust, stating that four kidnappers entered her apartment before 8 pm on Saturday.
“We are yet to lock the main door attached to our apartment as it was just 7 pm. So, they made their way straight into our sitting room flashed me with their torchlight and seized my mobile phone immediately. Initially, I mistook them for armed robbers until when they walked me out along with my four children, before later taking us out of the community with other neighbours they abducted,” Aminatu explained.
The Mai-Unguwa (ward head) of Dei-Dei, Ibrahim Galadima, also the commander of the security vigilante in the district, mentioned that seven persons were released, possibly due to the pressure from their efforts.
The kidnappers left the area with their victims in three batches, according to Galadima.
The affected estates are newly developed, rented out less than six months ago.
In a similar incident in Kubwa, seven residents, including two babies, were abducted by kidnappers believed to share the same base as those in Dei-Dei.
The kidnappers released a baby and two women, possibly as part of a humanitarian gesture or a strategy for ransom demands.
The FCT Police Command spokesperson, S.P Josephine Adeh, however, denied the reported kidnappings, stating, “This is not true, disregard please.”
She emphasized the command’s commitment to fortifying security measures during the yuletide season.
