Fear gripped the Abuja community of Piko on Monday after gunmen abducted 13 residents on Sunday night. The brazen attack, which unfolded in the Bwari Area Council, sent shockwaves through the Nigerian capital.
According to a local leader, Chief John Jatau, the armed men descended upon the remote village around 11:00 p.m., operating unchallenged for nearly an hour. The lack of mobile network coverage in Piko severely hampered the community’s ability to raise the alarm.
Jatau reported that the gunmen conducted a house-to-house search, abducting 13 people. Fortunately, three captives were later released. However, the kidnappers have made their chilling intentions known, demanding a N900 million (US$650,700) ransom for the remaining ten hostages.
This incident marks the latest in a string of attacks plaguing Bwari Area Council. Just last week, gunmen similarly invaded the Bmuko community within the same district, kidnapping four residents who are still being held captive. Authorities have yet to publicly comment on the Piko kidnappings.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
