Pastor’s children, a naval officer’s family, and others taken as attackers strike in coordinated raid; residents raise alarm over insider role and worsening insecurity in the capital

Fear has gripped residents of the Federal Capital Territory following a coordinated midnight attack by heavily armed gunmen on the Paze area of Byazhin-Across community in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of Abuja.

The assailants, who stormed the community at about 11:00 p.m., reportedly fired shots to disperse residents before moving from house to house, carrying out a series of abductions. Eyewitness accounts said the attackers threatened to force entry into homes, compelling frightened occupants to open their doors.

At least 16 people were abducted during the raid, including women and children. Among the victims were four children of a pastor, the wife of a local vigilante commander, her visiting younger sister, as well as a naval officer and his two daughters.

In a particularly distressing incident, the vigilante commander’s wife was taken while her two-month-old baby was left behind in the house.

The attack also turned deadly. A vigilante member identified as Sylvester was shot and killed while attempting to confront the gunmen. The vigilante commander himself narrowly escaped after being alerted to the attack, only to encounter the armed group on his way back home.

Community leaders say the incident is part of a troubling pattern of repeated attacks in the area, with victims often released only after the payment of large ransoms. They also raised concerns about a possible insider aiding the attackers, suggesting the level of coordination points to local collaboration.

Residents further disclosed that a joint security team previously deployed to the area had been withdrawn about a month before the latest attack, a move they believe left the community exposed.

In a separate but related development, a resident of the same axis was reportedly abducted for the second time within weeks, despite an earlier ransom payment, underscoring growing fears over persistent insecurity.

Leaders in the community have appealed to the federal government and security authorities to urgently intervene, warning that residents are increasingly vulnerable.

The latest incident has intensified concerns about safety in Abuja, raising broader questions about the effectiveness of current security measures in the nation’s capital.