Panic As Bandits Invade FCT, Niger State Communities, Kill 4, Kidnap 39

No less than four people lost their lives, and 39 others were abducted during a raid by bandits in Kuduru, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), along with Garam and Azu, two communities in Niger State.

On Saturday, December 23, bandits invaded Garam community, which is five minutes drive from Bwari, killing a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, while kidnapping 13 others.

On Thursday December 28, bandits again invaded Kuduru, which shares a boundary with Garam, and kidnapped 18 persons.

Also on Friday, December 29, bandits invaded Azu, killing three people and kidnapping eight others.

A resident of Garam, who identified herself as Mrs Juliana, said at the first house the bandits entered, they asked for the residence of their target.

She stated: “The bandits entered a wrong house, 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 Christians Church of God in the presence of his wife and their three children.

“It was further gathered that when the wife realised that she left her six month old baby behind, she asked the bandits for permission to go and carry the baby, and she was followed back to the house by the only female among the gunmen.

“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.”

The pastor’s wife, it was gathered, is a teacher in one of the government secondary schools in Bwari.

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 is on duty. They, however, kidnapped two of his children.”

The eyewitness added that 13 persons were kidnapped, while a five year old son of the Redeemed Church pastor that was killed was abandoned by the bandits at the riverside because he couldn’t cross the river.

The boy was rescued by vigilante operatives who went on the trail of the bandits.

The eyewitness said the bandits have made contact with the victims families and are demanding N50 million for each person as ransom.