Barely a week after a police officer was killed in Guto, Bwari Area Council has once again fallen victim to violent criminal activity. Armed bandits raided Gidan-Bijimi in Kawu ward late Wednesday night, abducting six young girls and a 16-year-old boy in a terrifying assault.
The attackers, armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed two homes around 9:47 pm, firing into the air before escaping with their victims. Gidan-Bijimi lies near Marke village, along a corridor known for criminal activity and close to forests that serve as hideouts for gangs operating along the FCT–Kaduna axis.
Suleiman Shuaibu, a resident of Kawu, confirmed that the abducted girls are aged between 17 and 23. “I got a call around 9:53 pm that bandits had invaded the village. They abducted six young girls. Unfortunately, my cousin sister is among the victims,” he said, adding that a teenage boy was also taken.
Members of the local vigilance group tried to confront the attackers but were forced to retreat due to their superior firepower. Many residents fled into nearby bushes, while others hid indoors until morning. As of Thursday, no contact has been made by the kidnappers, and the police have yet to officially confirm the incident.
The abduction has intensified fears over security in Bwari, sparking urgent calls for stronger protection in communities bordering Kaduna and Niger states. In response, the FCT Administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, announced enhanced security measures, activating Operation Sweep across multiple sectors including Bwari, Gwagwalada, and corridors linking the city centre with Karu, Mararaba, Karshi, and Orozo.
FCT Police Commissioner Miller Dantawaye assured that logistics and joint deployment of personnel from police, military, DSS, NSCDC, and other agencies had been provided. Yet, Wednesday night’s attack highlights the vulnerability of remote communities and the growing audacity of criminal gangs encroaching on the capital. Residents now live in constant fear, calling for urgent action to rescue the abducted youths and restore safety to their communities.