Residents of Kungaboku and neighbouring Paze communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have begun fleeing their homes after suspected bandits issued a threat to launch coordinated attacks on the areas.
The threat was reportedly contained in a letter discovered in a pupil’s school bag at a private school in Paze. In the note, the bandits allegedly vowed to attack the communities in retaliation for the killing of one of their commanders.
The development has heightened tension in the communities, coming days after a successful rescue operation by security forces.
On March 7, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade, in collaboration with the police and local vigilantes, rescued 19 kidnapped victims during a coordinated search and rescue mission around Gidan Dogo in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
Most of the rescued victims were residents of Kungaboku and Paze. During the operation, security operatives also recovered an AK-47 rifle and a locally fabricated firearm from the area.
The threatening letter was reportedly discovered by a teacher while marking a pupil’s homework. Following the discovery, the pupil, the child’s parents, the teacher and school authorities were taken in for questioning by the police before being released after interrogation and profiling.
News of the threat quickly spread across community platforms and social media, triggering panic among residents.
Tension had already been high in the area after suspected bandits attacked a Fulani settlement in Kungaboku a day before the letter surfaced, abducting three women and demanding a ransom of N70 million.
Kungaboku and Paze, located near Byazhin on the outskirts of Kubwa in Bwari Area Council, have recorded several violent attacks in recent times, raising concerns over security in the communities.
For now, many homes remain deserted as residents weigh their safety, while community leaders have urged calm and called on locals to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies to prevent further attacks.
