Late on Sunday night, Piko, a remote community nestled in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, fell victim to a harrowing ordeal.
Gunmen stormed the village, orchestrating a brazen abduction of 13 individuals and leaving behind a demand for a staggering N900 million ransom.
The operation unfolded swiftly, reportedly spanning an hour without any intervention or resistance from the community. Among the kidnapped were 10 residents from the area, alongside four nomadic Fulani herdsmen. However, there's a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness, as one of the Fulani captives managed to evade the clutches of the assailants.
Chief John Jatau, a community source, shed light on the distressing events. He recounted the nightmarish scenario, highlighting the absence of telecommunication networks in the village, which impeded communication and response efforts. The attackers roamed freely, targeting homes and seizing individuals indiscriminately.
Out of the 13 abducted, three were eventually released, while the fate of the remaining captives hangs precariously in the balance. Madakin Piko, the village chief, relayed the chilling ransom demand made by the kidnappers, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
This unsettling incident adds to a concerning trend of security challenges plaguing the Bwari Area Council. Despite recent efforts by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to bolster security with logistical support, including the provision of motorcycles for enhanced mobility, the vulnerability of remote communities remains a pressing concern.
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