BREAKING: Tension As Terrorists Storm Abuja Community, Abduct Boy and Six Teenage Girls

Panic has once again gripped residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as armed terrorists launched a late-night attack on Gidan-Bijimi in Kawu ward, Bwari Area Council, abducting a 16-year-old boy and six teenage girls in a frightening operation that has further heightened fears over security around the nation’s capital.

The attack, which occurred around 9:47 p.m. on Wednesday, sent shockwaves across neighboring communities, especially as Gidan-Bijimi borders Marke village on the Kaduna State axis — an area that has become notorious for criminal infiltration and deadly raids by armed groups in recent years.

Speaking with Daily Trust on Thursday morning, a resident of Kawu, Suleiman Shuaibu, confirmed the abduction and described the incident as one of the most terrifying attacks the community has witnessed in months. According to him, the attackers, numbering several men, stormed the village wielding AK-47 rifles and shooting sporadically into the air to instill fear and confusion.

Shuaibu said the bandits targeted at least two houses during the raid, moving swiftly as they rounded up the girls aged between 17 and 23 years, including his cousin, before kidnapping a 16-year-old boy. The attackers were said to have met little resistance due to their heavy firepower, leaving local vigilantes unable to mount a meaningful defense.

“It was around 9:53 p.m. when we received a distress call from Gidan-Bijimi that some bandits had invaded the community,” Shuaibu recounted. “They abducted six young girls, and unfortunately, my cousin sister happened to be among the victims. The attackers were fully armed and shooting everywhere. Some of our vigilantes tried to confront them but had to retreat because the bandits were better armed.”

He added that the entire community was thrown into chaos, with residents fleeing into nearby bushes to seek safety. Many families reportedly slept outdoors, fearing a repeat attack. By Thursday morning, a number of residents were still missing, having scattered in panic during the raid.

Shuaibu also noted that as at the time of speaking, no contact had been established with the kidnappers, fueling concerns over the condition and safety of the victims. Many families, he said, have been plunged into anxiety and uncertainty as they await communication from the abductors, who are notorious for demanding huge ransom payments.

Efforts to get an official reaction from security authorities proved difficult. The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, did not respond to multiple calls or text messages as of the time this report was filed.

The latest abduction comes barely 48 hours after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike ordered security agencies to intensify surveillance across the capital city, particularly around border communities that share boundaries with states confronting serious security challenges, including Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi.

Wike, who spoke during a security briefing on Tuesday, directed the reinforcement of joint patrols and intelligence operations to curb the escalating wave of bandit attacks and kidnappings, which have crept closer to the heart of Abuja in recent months. The minister emphasized the need for improved monitoring of entry points and enhanced collaboration among security agencies.

Following the directive, a joint military security team comprising operatives of the Nigerian Police Force, the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other paramilitary agencies was deployed to various strategic areas of the FCT. The operation, known as “Operation Sweep,” is designed to flush out criminal elements, dismantle kidnapping cells, and reinforce public confidence.

Addressing the operatives during their deployment, FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, stressed the need for synergy and shared intelligence among the various units. He assured residents that the renewed operation would significantly strengthen security coverage and reduce criminal activities across the territory.

“The security situation in the FCT demands collective effort,” CP Dantawaye told the joint task force. “The minister has provided the necessary logistics to support this intensified operation. Our goal is to ensure that every community in the FCT feels the impact of our presence and enjoys the safety and protection they deserve.”

Despite these assurances, Wednesday night’s abduction has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of the new security measures. Many residents are now calling for more direct intervention, including the permanent establishment of security bases in border communities known to be vulnerable to terrorist incursions.

Local leaders in Bwari Area Council have also expressed concerns that their region is becoming a gateway for bandit activities spreading from neighbouring northwestern states. Several communities in the area have suffered repeated attacks, prompting calls for the creation of a more robust security architecture to protect rural populations who often lack rapid response support.

Residents of Kawu and surrounding communities say they remain on edge following the latest raid and are pleading for urgent action from the federal government. Some have started relocating family members, especially women and children, to safer areas, fearing that the attackers may return.

For now, the fate of the abducted teenagers and the 16-year-old boy remains uncertain. Families continue to wait anxiously for any word from the kidnappers, while security personnel reportedly comb the surrounding forests in search of leads. The community hopes that the renewed security crackdown ordered by the minister will not only lead to the rescue of the victims but also bring an end to the persistent threat facing residents of Abuja’s outlying districts.

As panic spreads and tensions rise, the latest incident underscores the growing reality that even Nigeria’s capital is no longer insulated from the insecurity ravaging other parts of the country.