Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have raided Zhibi, a community bordering Dei-Dei town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) but located in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting a businessman and his two daughters.
The victims, identified as Muhammad Shuaibu, his 200-level undergraduate daughter, and her younger sister, were taken away after the attackers invaded their home around 12 a.m. on Friday.
A family source told reporters that the assailants gained entry into the house through the backyard, destroying a burglar-proof padlock before breaking into the rooms.
“They did the same thing in the room where the wife was sleeping. She woke up suddenly to find them inside and ran toward her husband’s room,” the source said.
“They gathered everyone in the sitting room and threatened to take the whole family, but the wife pleaded for mercy, begging them to spare her and her baby. They eventually left her behind.”
The gunmen reportedly seized the couple’s mobile phones and demanded food items before fleeing with the businessman and his two daughters.
Residents lamented the poor security presence in the area, noting that the local police outpost has only a handful of officers. According to them, efforts to get assistance from the Dei-Dei Police Division were unsuccessful, as officers there claimed the community falls outside their jurisdiction.
As of Monday afternoon, no contact had been established between the kidnappers and the victims’ relatives.
Efforts to reach the Suleja Area Commander, ACP Muhammad Sani Musa, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to phone calls. However, a police source confirmed the attack, saying security operatives were making efforts to track down the abductors.
