BANDITS have reportedly abducted farmers during an attack on Rafin-Daji, a community in Gurdi Ward of Abaji Area Council of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to Daily Trust, a farmer Saidu Yakubu, who escaped the attack, said the incident happened around 2:00 pm on Thursday when bandits wielding AK -47 rifles attacked farmers cultivating their land in the community.
Yakubu said the bandits shot sporadically into the air before whisking away the farmers.
According to him, the bandits also burnt two tractors during the attack.
Yakubu said 13 family members, including two females, were working on separate farmlands when the bandits swopped on them.
He gave the names of the family members as Ismaila Barde, Mustapha Barde, Hussaini Abdullahi, Nasiru Barde, Abdulkarim Barde, Sanusi Barde, Usman, Barde, Nura Barde, Abdullahi Barde, Babawo Barde, Farida Ayuba and Hauwa Ayuba.
“It was only God that saved me as I managed to escape when the bandits were shooting into the air,” Yakubu said.
The District Head of Gurdi Chiefdom, Bala Mohammed, confirmed the abduction of the farmers and burning of the tractors on Friday.
However, he did not confirm the number of abducted farmers.
Mohammed said residents of the community were under siege as bandits usually invade the village through Niger State.
He said has reported the latest attack to the police and Abaji Area Council authorities.
Deputy Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command Oduniyi Omotayo, confirmed the attack and said efforts are being made to rescue the victims and bring perpetrators to book.
“Upon receipt of the information, a combined team of police officers from various tactical and intelligence units of the Command, hunters and vigilantes stormed the forest and combed it aggressively,” Omotayo said.
A reporter with the ICIR
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