Gunmen Strike Again! Abuja Estate Residents Recount Horrific Night as Fresh Update Surfaces

Gunmen reportedly infiltrated the Grow Homes Estate located in Chikakore, on the outskirts of Kubwa town within Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the early hours of Monday.

This attack occurred just about 48 hours after a similar incident at Efab Global Estate in the Idu district, where armed assailants believed to be robbers targeted another residential area.

Chikakore, roughly 30 kilometers from central Abuja and under the jurisdiction of the Bwari Area Council, has witnessed a series of violent incidents this year. In January, about 20 suspected kidnappers invaded a residence, abducted five people—including a director linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—who was later killed in captivity.

During the latest attack, two individuals—a businessman and a housewife—were reportedly abducted in an operation that lasted nearly an hour. However, subsequent accounts revealed that the woman was later released in a remote area near the community after pleading with the kidnappers, explaining she couldn’t keep up with the pace as they retreated into the bush.

A relative of the abducted businessman, who requested anonymity, told Daily Trust that the attackers dismantled the barbed wire on the home’s perimeter fence before gaining entry. They then broke a window to access the bungalow, where they found the man with his family and whisked him away.

Efforts to speak with the victim’s wife were unsuccessful, as she was visibly distressed and surrounded by sympathizers attempting to comfort her and convince her to eat breakfast.

The gunmen reportedly struck at least three different compounds during the attack. A resident from one of the homes recounted how he and his brother managed to hide just in time after waking up to gunfire around 1:00 a.m.

“The attackers first went to a nearby house where they kidnapped a woman, who was later freed. From there, they came to our compound. Before they arrived, my brother and I quickly hid in separate places. From my hiding spot, I was able to observe their movements,” the resident said.

He added that the gunmen cut through the security wire on the fence before forcing the gate open.