Four children of a pastor, the wife of a vigilante commander, and several other residents have been kidnapped by gunmen in Peze community.
Peze community in Byazhi village, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, was invaded by heavily armed gunmen who abducted more than sixteen residents and whisked them away to an unknown destination.
The victims include four children of a pastor, the wife of a vigilante commander, and her younger sister who had come to visit the family just days before the incident.
Reliable sources in the community confirmed the attack to AIT’s HAS AKODIH on Friday, stating that the gunmen invaded the community on Thursday night, operating between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.
According to residents, the attackers initially gathered in an uncompleted building opposite one of the houses before launching their operation.
A resident said the gunmen later began moving from house to house, banging on doors and attempting to force their way into homes while shouting to provoke reactions from occupants and threatened to kill anyone who refused to open their doors.
The resident further explained that the vigilante commander had left his home around 10 p.m. after receiving information that gunmen were sighted in another part of the community, not knowing that the attackers had already surrounded his own residence.
On his way back, the gunmen reportedly blocked him on the road and opened fire.
The attackers later stormed his residence where they abducted his wife, who had given birth less than a month ago, along with her younger sister.
Community sources said security operatives arrived at the scene after the attackers had already fled with their victims.
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When AIT’s HAS AKODIH contacted the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Bwari over the incident, he referred inquiries to the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, who is yet to return calls or respond to messages sent to her phone.
Meanwhile, the abductors have reportedly contacted the families of the victims and are demanding ransom for their release.
Residents recall that a similar attack occurred in the same community on January 4, 2026, during which several people were also kidnapped.
Community members are now calling on security agencies and the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory to urgently deploy more security personnel to the area and take decisive steps to curb the growing wave of kidnappings.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
