Bandits seem to be shifting their kidnapping operations to women as they abducted a female teacher at Government Secondary School (GSS), Kuje, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and three housewives old Birnin Yero town along Kaduna-Zaria Highway, Kaduna State.

For many months now, residents of Abuja have been living in fear as a result of the activities of bandits, who have been operating at random.

The female teacher, identified as Mrs Daramola Onyeaka Matina, was said to have been kidnapped right inside her residence at Shadadi community in Kuje Local Council.

A family member, who confirmed that the incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday, said that the kidnappers broke into her residence around 12:34am.

“They gained access into her residence through the back door. They used a sledge harmer and axe to destroy the door, while others stood outside and surrounded the house. She was whisked away at gunpoint,” he said.

He said the family has been able to establish contact with her abductors who are demanding N10 million ransom.

“Actually, a contact was established with her abductors late evening of Tuesday, they were demanding N10 million ransom, even though, negotiation is still ongoing,” he said.

The Kuje branch secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Shamaki Nathan Magaji, confirmed the abduction in a telephone interview.

He said the branch has informed the state union about the incident.

When contacted over the phone, spokesperson of the FCT police command, ASP Maryam Yusuf, asked our reporter to send her a text message but she had not replied as of the time this report was filed.

Meanwhile, the three housewives were abducted about 11pm on Monday at old Birnin Yero town along Kaduna-Zaria Highway alongside seven others, including the two sons of the community leader.

According to a resident, “most of the people in the community were not aware of the bandits’ presence in the village because they didn’t fire shots during the operation. They picked two sons of our community leader and other residents, including three housewives, before fleeing.”

Credit: Global Upfront