Residents flee FCT communities over bandits’ alleged attack threat

Residents of Kungaboku and Paze communities in the Federal Capital Territory have begun fleeing their homes following a letter allegedly written by suspected bandits threatening a coordinated attack.

The letter, reportedly discovered in a pupil’s school bag at a private school in Paze, warned that the armed group planned to launch attacks on Kungaboku and neighbouring Paze to avenge the killing of one of their commanders.

The development has triggered panic across the communities, with residents sharing the information across local WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms.

According to local sources, the letter was discovered by a teacher while marking a pupil’s homework notebook. The discovery immediately raised alarm, prompting security agencies to intervene.

Police authorities subsequently picked up the pupil, the child’s parents, the teacher, and school authorities for questioning. They were interrogated and profiled before being released.

The communities, located near Byazhin, an extension of Kubwa in the Bwari Area Council, have witnessed a series of violent attacks in recent months, forcing many residents to live in constant fear.

Rescue operation precedes threat

The threat comes days after a coordinated rescue operation by troops of the 7 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army, working alongside police officers and local vigilantes.

On March 7, security forces rescued 19 kidnapped victims during an operation around Gidan Dogo in the Bwari Area Council.

The victims were mostly residents of Kungaboku and Paze who had earlier been abducted by suspected bandits.

During the operation, troops reportedly killed one of the attackers, while others fled with suspected gunshot wounds.

Security personnel also recovered one AK-47 rifle and a locally fabricated firearm during the raid.

Residents believe the threat letter may be linked to the killing of the bandit during the rescue operation, which the attackers allegedly referenced in their message.

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The development has heightened fears among residents who worry the armed group could return to retaliate.

Communities plagued by repeated attacks

Kungaboku and neighbouring settlements have suffered repeated attacks by armed groups over the past year.

Just days before the threat letter surfaced, suspected bandits attacked a Fulani settlement in Kungaboku, abducted three women, and demanded a ransom of N70 million.

Earlier in October 2025, a veterinary doctor, Ifeanyi Ogbu, was abducted in the same community along with his three children.

Ogbu, who previously served as chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association’s FCT chapter, was later shot dead in an open field, while his children were taken away by the attackers.

More recently, on March 5, suspected bandits attacked Kungaboku again and abducted a retired military officer, Bankole Ganiyu, alongside three children.

According to residents, Ganiyu’s wife, a police officer, and two other children who were inside the house during the attack managed to escape unharmed.

On the same day, armed men also raided a nearby farm settlement, killing a vigilante member on duty and abducting three workers. Six other residents reportedly escaped during the attack.

In Paze and surrounding settlements, residents say the raids have become frequent, with gunmen reportedly moving from house to house abducting victims.

Community sources say no fewer than 12 people, including women and children, have been kidnapped in the area within the past two weeks.

Among those abducted were four children belonging to a pastor, as well as the wife of a vigilante leader and her sister. In one incident, attackers reportedly left a baby behind after taking the mother.

Security authorities have since stepped in to calm tensions following the latest threat.

At a meeting convened on Saturday by the Divisional Police Officer of the Byazhin division, community leaders and residents were assured that proactive security measures were being put in place.

The meeting was held at the palace of the Kungaboku community head, Ishaya Jagaba.

Police confirmed the existence of the threat letter but urged residents not to panic, assuring them that security patrols would be intensified across the affected communities.

Residents were also advised to remain vigilant and monitor the activities of commercial motorcyclists and scavengers, who security officials said sometimes serve as informants for criminal groups.

Community members were further encouraged to profile new residents moving into the area to ensure they were not linked to criminal networks.

The police also urged residents to support efforts to establish a permanent police post in Kungaboku to strengthen security presence in the area.

Despite the assurances, fear continues to hang over the communities, with some residents temporarily relocating while awaiting further security interventions.

Community leaders, however, appealed for calm, urging residents to cooperate with security agencies to prevent further attacks.