Cyril Mbah, Abuja.
Yet to be identified gunmen have abducted a Jibi community leader (Esu Jibi), Ibrahim Dahiru Liman, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, while two vigilante members who attempted to save the victim were severely wounded and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Jibi, is a community directly behind Mobil Police, MOPOL, quarters known as Ibrahim Abubakar Barracks located along Deidei -Zuba Expressway in Abuja, the Nigeria capital.
An eyewitness, identified as Alex Minga, who spoke on the abduction, said the kidnappers in a large number invaded the community at about 10p.m on Monday night.
“The community at about 10p.m to 11p.m started hearing gunshots which was confirmed to be sound of AK47 guns.
“Everyone in the community was completely terrified as throughout the night, there was exchange of gunshots between the vigilante and the kidnappers but the gunmen succeeded in kidnapping the village head,” Minga said.
He regretted that despite the community’s proximity to MOPOL 45 Barracks, Jibi has suffered frequent attacks from kidnappers without prompt intervention by the police.
“This is about the fourth time the community is being attacked this year and the police will only come after the incident and claim they are on top of the situation. For how long will this continue?
“The fear of who is next has completely beclouded the community and no one is sleeping with two eyes closed anymore. Something has to be done fast before it gets out of hands,” he lamented.
Another resident who was a victim of kidnapper’s attack on 26 March, 2021, Simon Abah, called on the appropriate authorities to act swiftly before everyone is kidnapped from the community.
He said, “I appeal to the Niger State Government, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCT, the Nigerian Police Force and other security operatives to, as a matter of urgency, come to our rescue in Jibi community before everyone is kidnapped.”
Till the time of filing this report, Esu Jibi’s abductors have not established contact with his family nor did FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Maryann Yusuf, respond to inquiries on the matter when she was contacted.