Gunmen invaded an army estate in the Phase II area of Kurudu in Abuja and abducted three persons including the wife of a lawyer and his mother-in-law.
The incident reportedly occurred at around 10:34 pm on Thursday, creating panic in the normally serene army estate located about 25 kilometers away from the Abuja city center.
A resident of the estate, John Emmanuel told Daily Trust that the armed assailants specifically targeted the apartment of lawyer Barrister Cyril Adikwu.
Barrister Adikwu managed to escape when he realized the gunmen were forcing their way into his home.
However, the criminals succeeded in abducting his wife and mother-in-law at gunpoint.
Emmanuel recounted the terrifying incident, stating, “Actually, the gunmen succeeded in escaping with their victims because they operated quietly until when they were moving out of the estate when they started shooting. Before the army could respond, they had already escaped with their victims.”
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the abduction, stating that it occurred at about 9:00 pm on Thursday and three persons were abducted.
He added that troops are currently conducting a search and rescue operation in response to a distress call from the estate.
The incident adds to the rising cases of kidnappings and security challenges in the Abuja region.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, recently convened a meeting with security agencies and stakeholders to address the concerning trend. In the meeting,
Wike urged security agencies to intensify their efforts, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun established a Special Intervention Squad to combat the increasing crime rate in Abuja.
