*Not terrorism, but armed robbery, says PPRO, Adeh
Suspected terrorists/bandits in the wee hours of Monday June 6, attacked Efab Mini-Estate, inside a bigger Genuine Estate in Gwarimpa, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and operated from 1am to 4am before abducting scores of residents of the estate.
Multiple sources disclosed that the bandits arrived at the estate in large number, gained access to Genuine Estate, located after Efab Queens on the 6th Avenue, Gwarinpa and attacked the residents, brandishing bows, arrows, and machetes.
Some of the eyewitnesses said they equally came with riffles, but probably didn’t fire a shot in order not to attract the security and permit them operate surreptitiously and leave the police guessing their true identity.
When contacted on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, DSP Josephine Adeh said the case was probably armed robbery case, not terrorism or a kidnapping case.
She however said operatives of the Command have been deployed to the scene to ascertain how the incident happened, adding that the public would be duly notified after details of the had been analysed.
However, a resident of the estate, who preferred anonymity, explained that the bandits invaded the estate in their numbers in a most horrendous manner.
He said that the bandits, who were in large numbers, armed with guns, bows, arrows, and machetes, and were moving from one building to the other unhindered.
He further said that with the way they carried out the operation on the estate, unknown number of residents of the estate were kidnapped.
Another resident, who simply identified himself as Mohammed, said the gunmen gained access to Genuine Estate after scaling over the fence, damaging the wire mesh with disused tyres and other iron-cutting items, while some of their gang members attacked the security Post, overpowering them and gaining access and control of the entire estate.
He explained further to that the hoodlums were armed with guns, bows, arrows, and machetes and came in large numbers.
Recall that the FCT has become attractive to street urchins and Almajiri boys from the northern parts of the country as well as foreigners with no discernible nationality.
These boys, who age are between 12 and 30 usually pretend to be scavengers (babambola), moving about with over-sized bags, even at odd hours of the night, ostensibly using that as cover, whereas they are carrying out reconnaissance duties.
There are equally some other boys who have taken up residence under make-shift tables and desks, especially in the city center around Area One flyover bridge, opposite NNPC Mega filling station at the Central Area, UTC in Area 10, along the rail corridor between Tamara Hotel in Wuse Zone 3 and behind the late Justice Bello’s residence in Wuse Zone 2 (Oroni Garden axis), the open spaces around Berger Roundabout, Utako Motor Park and environs, causing havoc for the residents of the areas mentioned.
Efforts snd reports filed at the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), the Development Control and security agencies complaining about theft and attacks by these boys, have remained untreated, but dismissed as profiling.
Just last week, the police reported the bursting of ISWAP/Boko Haram cells in Abuja, but did not tell residents the exact location.
The statement by CSP Adeh have therefore been dismissed as a distraction so as not to cause more panic, even though the relations of those kidnapped are yet to be contacted as at the time of filing this report.
*Further details later…
