Gunmen have abducted at least 16 residents in Kubwa in Abuja, during a late-night attack that has heightened security concerns in the Federal Capital.
The attack occurred in a community in Kubwa, where armed men reportedly stormed the area, killing a local vigilante member and abducting several residents, including women and children. Among those kidnapped were the wife of the vigilante member and a pastor, according to local reports.
Residents said the gunmen invaded the community late at night, firing shots to create panic before moving from house to house. The attackers reportedly overpowered the local vigilante group that attempted to resist them. During the confrontation, one vigilante member was killed before the attackers fled with multiple captives.
Community members said the abductors took the victims into nearby bush paths leading out of the area, a tactic commonly used in previous kidnappings around Abuja’s outskirts.
The incident has further raised concerns about insecurity around the capital, where several communities have experienced a growing number of kidnappings and armed attacks in recent years. Local authorities confirmed that security agencies have begun operations to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims, while residents are calling for increased security presence in the area.
As of the time of reporting, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the condition of those abducted remains unknown.
