Unidentified gunmen are demanding a N900 million ransom after reportedly abducting 13 persons in Piko, a remote community in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
The kidnapping occurred at midnight Sunday, lasting for over one hour. The local traditional chief, the Maidakin Piko, Chief John Jatau confirmed that 10 residents and four nomadic herders were taken. He said one of the herdsmen escaped.
The names of the abducted residents are Nuhu Anyiwoyi, Emmanuel Nuhu, Danjuma Ali, Parisa Numa, Ezekiel Jatau, Shekwosa Ezekiel, Roseline Samuel, Salome Jacob, Abyelo Ezra, and Ezra Male.
A local who witnessed the incident said the invaders overpowered the local vigilance group in the community and held it to a ransom.
“The kidnapping incident occurred… Sunday night 05/05/2024, at about 11 pm,” disclosed David Audu.
“The kidnappers raided the village for about one hour without any response or reaction from the community or outsiders.
“The major challenge the community faced last night (Sunday) in terms of communication with others was a result of no telecommunication network in the village.
“So, they picked people from house to house. They picked about 13 people from the community and later released three.
"The Madakin Piko; he informed me that they have called and they said they need the ransom of 900 million.”
The FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh neither confirmed nor refuted the incident when contacted on WhatsApp.
