· 4 killed, 23 kidnapped in Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji
· Another Catholic priest killed in Kaduna
By Laraba MUREY
Terrorists seemed to be gaining grounds along the fringes of Abuja, the nation’s capital, as at least three separate attacks were carried out on border communities in the last one week.
A herder was reportedly killed in a Fulani settlement at Pai community of Kwali area council, after gunmen stormed the community and abducted one Maude Ado.
The deceased, Ado Mamman, was shot in the chest while trying to prevent the attackers from leaving with his kinsman.
Secretary of the Gwagwalada branch of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Mohammed Usman, said the shooting of Mamman occurred around 11pm last Sunday.
According to the MACBAN scribe, “It was the sporadic gun shot that even attracted the attention of the villagers, but not until about 4:00 am that it was discovered that bandits killed one of the herders and whisked away one other person.” Shehu said.
Barely four days after Ado Mamman’s murder, another herdsman, Isah Muhammadu, was also killed at Rafin-Zurfi community in Gwagwalada area council, in the early hours of Thursday, last week.
Resident of Rafin-Zurfi, said the bandits wielding sophisticated weapons attacked the Fulani settlement when its occupants were asleep.
They said the attackers fled the area after killing the 20-year-old herder without abducting anyone.
Mohammed Usman, who also confirmed the incident, told the media that the killing may have been that of a mistaken identity, as the victim was a visitor to the area.
The Federal Capital Territory has been overwhelmed by reports of abductions in recent times.
Only last Thursday, two people were reportedly killed while 22 others, including children and women, were kidnapped after suspected herdsmen attacked some farms in Rafin-Daji, Gurbe Ward, in Abaji Area Council.
The farming community shares boundary with Zago community in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State. Both communities are connected through river Gurara.
Saidu Yakubu, a farmer, who escaped, said the incident happened around 2pm on Friday.
He said bandits with AK-47 rifles attacked farmers that were cultivating their lands in the community.
According to him, the bandits shot sporadically into the air before whisking away the farmers and burning down s tractor on a large farm land in the community.
He also said 13 family members were among the 22 abducted victims.
He said the 13 family members, including two females, were working on separate farm lands when they bandits swopped on them.
The district head of Gurdi Chiefdom, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, while confirming the abduction of farmers and burning of tractors, said his people were under siege as bandits usually invade his chiefdom through Niger state.
Confirming the attacks, a spokesman of the FCT Police Command, ASP Oduniyi Omotayo, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims and bring perpetrators to book.
“Upon receipt of this information, a combined team of police officers from various tactical and intelligence units of the Command, including Destiny Hunters, Vigilantes, and local hunters stormed the forest, combing it aggressively for the rescue of the victims even as I speak.
“Monitoring and surveillance of the community also continues, as we’re working tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to book.”
Recall that gunmen had in April attacked and killed the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria, Adamu Aliyu, in the Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja.
He was killed alongside four other people near Daku village in Dobi ward of the council on 21st April.
Mohammed Usman, Secretary of MACBAN, while confirming the killing, said three persons were also abducted.
According to him, three others were injured and were taken to the hospital for medical attention.
He said the late MACBAN chairman, with six others, was returning from Izom market in Niger State, when he was attacked by gunmen.
“They were returning from Izom market in Niger state where they went to sell cows, until just one kilometer to Daku village when the bandits suddenly emerged from the bush and opened fire on the truck, killing the MACBAN chairman and four others,” he said.
The siege to Abuja is coming on the heels of the killing of another Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Vitus Borogo, on his farm in Kaduna State late Saturday night.
Confirming the incident, the Chancellor, Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Rev. Fr. Christian Okewu Emmanuel, in a statement said, “It is with a heavy heart, but with total submission to the will of God that we announce the death of Rev. Fr. Vitus Borogo, which sad event took place today, at Prison Farm, Kujama, along Kaduna-Kachia road, after a raid on the farm by terrorists.
“Until his death, late Fr Vitus aged 50 years was the Chaplain of the Catholic Community of the Kaduna State Polytechnic, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Kaduna Chapter.
“Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna condoles with the immediate family, the NFCS Family of Kaduna Polytechnic, and indeed the entire Kaduna polytechnic community and assures them of his fraternal closeness and prayers.”
