At least four people were killed and 39 others kidnapped when bandits invaded Kuduru, a town in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, as well as Garam and Azu communities in neighbouring Niger State.
Witnesses said the daredevil bandits had, on Saturday, December 23, invaded Garam in Niger state, which is a five-minute drive from Bwari, Abuja, killing a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, while kidnapping 13 others.
On Thursday, December 28, the bandits struck Kuduru, Abuja, which shares a boundary with Garam, and kidnapped 18 people.
The following day, Friday, December 29, the bandits invaded Azu still in Niger State, killing three people and kidnapping eight others.
A resident of Garam, who identified herself as Mrs. Juliana, said the bandits had initially missed their target and gone to the wrong house, where they then abducted two kids.
“The bandits entered the wrong house and kidnapped two boys, who later led them to the house of their target.
“When they got there, they kidnapped the entire family, but while leaving the house, they shot the man (their target), who is a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in the presence of his wife and their three children,” she said.
It was further gathered that when the wife realized that she had left her six-month-old baby behind, she asked for permission of the bandits to go back for the baby. And she was escorted to the house by the only female among the bandits.
“However, when the female bandit ran out of patience, she left the woman, joined the others, and went with the other kidnapped persons, who were 13 in number,” an eyewitness said.
The pastor’s wife, it was gathered, is a teacher in one of the government secondary schools in Bwari.
Went for soldier’s rifle and uniform
Another eyewitness said the bandits made their way to the house of a military personnel, asking for his rifle and uniform from the wife.
“The wife told them that her husband was on duty. They, however, kidnapped two of his children,” the eyewitness said.
The eyewitness added that 13 people were kidnapped, while the five-year-old son of the pastor, who was killed, was abandoned by the bandits at the riverside because he could not cross the river.
The boy was reportedly rescued by the vigilance team, which went on the trail of the bandits.
