PeakNews Online
Abuja, Nigeria – Pandemonium erupted in the El-Rufai Estate in the Bwari Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) when kidnappers invaded the estate and shot one resident in the early hours of Wednesday.
The kidnappers, numbering over fifteen, stormed the estate around 2 am, shooting sporadically to frighten the residents. However, operatives from the FCT police command, in conjunction with soldiers from the Guards Brigade, successfully foiled the kidnap attempt, leaving one resident, identified as Nathaniel, injured.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being targeted, recounted the intense gun battle between the police and the kidnappers, which lasted for over 30 minutes. This fierce exchange prevented the kidnappers from abducting anyone from the estate. The resident also noted that one of the intended victims, Nathaniel, was shot and subsequently abandoned by the kidnappers due to the overwhelming firepower from the security operatives.
Ibrahim, another resident, described the incident, stating, “Around 2 am on Wednesday, some kidnappers numbering about 15 came to the El-Rufai Estate here. All of them were carrying guns and they were shooting non-stop. The kidnappers attempted to kidnap some persons. You know in this area we have experienced a lot of kidnappings in the past, but recently the police have been very active.”
He continued, “Fortunately, the police came on time and they exchanged fire with those kidnappers which lasted for about 30 minutes or so. At the end of the day, nobody was abducted by the kidnappers. However, the kidnappers shot one Nathaniel. They wanted to take him away but they couldn’t because of the exchange of fire between them and the police.”
FCT police command public relations officer, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the attack on the estate and stated that the police are actively pursuing the kidnappers. “We received a distress call and the DPO of Bwari mobilized his men along with the military and swiftly repelled the miscreants in a gun duel. No one was kidnapped. The police are on the trail of the kidnappers,” Adeh said.
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in the area, despite recent efforts by law enforcement to curb such criminal activities.
Joe
