Gunmen invade Abuja village, abduct NSCDC officer, 8 others

Gunmen Monday night invaded Pegi, a resettlement area in Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and abducted nine persons including an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Blueprint gathered that the gunmen dressed in military camouflages arrived in the settlement around 8:00pm in Hilux van.

It was also gathered that as a result of local vigilantes’ brave efforts, the gunmen abandoned their operational vehicle riddled with bullets and ran into the bush with their victims.

A leader in the community who asked not to be named in print confirmed that the kidnappers had called Tuesday morning and demanded N10 million from a relative of the abductees.

When contacted, the chairman Pegi Community Development Association (PECDA), Chief Taiwo Aderibigbe, confirmed the development, saying that available information showed that the invaders were more than 20 in number and that the matter had been reported to the police.

Also, FCT police command confirmed the incident, adding that efforts were being made to rescue the victims.

Its spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manza, in a statement, said, “Though details of the incident are still sketchy, the command is urging members of the public to be calm while the police intensify efforts to rescue and re-unite victims with members of their families.”

The command called on the members of the public to be security-conscious and to provide information to the police and other relevant security agencies on suspicious movements and activities within their communities.

The command reassured members of the public of its commitment to protecting lives and property in the territory.

Also speaking, the spokesperson of the NSCDC, Emmanuel Okeh, confirmed the abduction of the Corps’ personnel, saying that efforts were being made to secure his release.

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