A resident of El-Rufai Estate in the Federal Capital Territory’s Bwari Area, identified as Nathaniel, was shot by abductors following the failure of their attempt to take him hostage.
Around 2:00 am on Wednesday, the kidnappers, who numbered more than fifteen, broke into the estate and began firing intermittently.
According to information obtained by Punch correspondent, the kidnappers had made several attempts to kidnap residents before being stopped by police officers from the Federal Capital Territory working with the military.
A resident identified only as Saliu told the correspondent that the kidnappers and police engaged in a ferocious gunfight that lasted for approximately half an hour.
He continued by saying that although the kidnappers were unable to take any more hostages from the estate, they were able to shoot one of the residents they were attempting to remove.
Saliu said, “Around 2 am on Wednesday, some kidnappers numbering about 15 came to the Elrufai Estate here. All of them were carrying guns and they were shooting non-stop.
“The kidnappers attempted to kidnap some people. You know, in this area we have experienced a lot of kidnappings in the past but recently the police have been very active.
“Fortunately, the police came on time, and they exchanged fire with those kidnappers. This lasted for about 30 minutes or so but at the end of the day, nobody was taken away by the kidnappers. However, the kidnappers shot one Nathaniel. They wanted to take him away but they couldn’t. ”
Josephine Adeh, a spokesman for the FCT police command, verified the incident when contacted. She also mentioned that the kidnappers are being sought after by the police.
Adeh said, “We received a distress call, and the DPO of Bwari mobilized his men along with the military and swiftly repelled the miscreants in a gun duel. No one was kidnapped.
“The police are on the trail of the kidnappers.”
