Kidnappers have sent payment instructions to families of victims abducted from two communities near Abuja, demanding millions of naira following a series of violent raids that have left residents in fear.
Reports indicate that the criminals lowered their initial ransom demand after negotiations with locals, reducing it from a significantly higher sum while continuing to hold multiple victims.
The attacks occurred in the Kungabokun and Paze communities of the Byazhin district near Kubwa in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, where assailants struck twice within a week.
At least 16 residents were abducted during the raids, and properties, including household items, were looted. Families later received account details for ransom payments.
A resident who witnessed one of the attacks around 9 p.m. said he alerted a local vigilante group after seeing masked men, but the responders were forced to retreat due to heavy gunfire.
“The vigilante team was lucky to be able to withdraw successfully,” he said.
Another resident, Dalha Sulaiman, described a separate attack at 1 a.m. saying “They pointed a gun at my face and threatened to shoot. They kicked me out of my room and forced me to lead them to my brother’s home. They abducted my second wife and my elder brother’s wife.”
He added that the kidnappers initially demanded ₦40 million before reducing it to ₦2 million, providing account details for payment.
According to him, the family is still negotiating to bring the ransom down further to ₦1.5 million.