By DAYO ADESULU
A fresh wave of fear swept through the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday night as terrorists invaded Gidan-Bijimi, a quiet community in the Kawu ward of Bwari Area Council, kidnapping seven residents barely hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency. The Abuja terrorist attack has triggered widespread alarm, signalling how deeply bandit networks have entrenched themselves along the capital’s vulnerable borders.
Gunmen Strike Shortly After Emergency Declaration
According to residents, the gunmen stormed the community around 10 p.m., firing gunshots into the air as families fled into the darkness. Their attack came less than 24 hours after President Tinubu announced sweeping measures aimed at tackling banditry and insurgency, especially across Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi and other northern states battling repeated raids.
The Abuja terrorist attack unfolded from the border axis linking Abuja and Kaduna State, a passage that has become a notorious route for armed groups over the past five years.
Victims Include Teenagers and Young Women
The abductors escaped with seven victims, including a 16-year-old boy and six young women aged between 17 and 23.
Suleiman Shuaibu, who lost a cousin to the attackers, recounted the moment terror hit the village.
“It was around 9:53 p.m. when a call came from Gidan-Bijimi that bandits had invaded the village and abducted six young girls. Unfortunately, my cousin is among them,” he said, visibly shaken.
Shuaibu explained that local vigilante members attempted to repel the bandits. However, they were overpowered almost immediately due to the attackers’ superior firepower.
Community Left in Fear as Security Agencies Respond
Residents described the Abuja terrorist attack as “swift, coordinated, and unsettling,” noting that the attackers seemed familiar with the terrain. Panic spread across neighbouring settlements as villagers relayed distress calls through community networks and local authorities.
Security agents have since intensified patrols around the Kawu axis, though many families remain displaced for fear of further attacks. Community leaders are pleading for urgent intervention to prevent the bandits from returning.
Tinubu’s Emergency Security Order Now Under Scrutiny
The timing of the attack has sparked serious debate across the country. Earlier on Wednesday, President Tinubu outlined a comprehensive emergency security directive to halt the rising wave of banditry. His plan included:
Recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers
Recruitment of 30,000 military personnel
Conversion of NYSC camps into accelerated training depots
Withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs
Deployment of State Security Service operatives to flush out forest-based terrorist cells
However, the Abuja terrorist attack has raised questions about the immediate readiness of security agencies to implement the emergency measures, especially in high-risk areas already exposed to repeated raids.
A Border Vulnerable to Bandit Movements
Experts warn that the Bwari–Kaduna border corridor has become a strategic escape route for several armed groups. Over the past year, communities in the Kawu–Kuchiko–Garam belt have recorded multiple abductions, yet large sections remain poorly secured.
Residents told journalists that Gidan-Bijimi has suffered more than five attacks in less than two years, but Wednesday’s invasion was the most devastating.
Families Plead for Swift Rescue Operation
As families mourn and pray for the safe return of the abducted victims, pressure is mounting on security agencies to launch coordinated rescue efforts. Many locals believe that the abductors are still within the border forests surrounding the Kawu axis and could be intercepted before they move deeper into Kaduna’s vast bushland.
Community elders and youth leaders have also urged the government to reinforce military presence, noting that the Abuja terrorist attack demonstrates that bandit cells remain emboldened despite national security directives.
National Concern Over Rising Insecurity
Across social media, Nigerians are expressing anger and anxiety, especially as the attack occurred within hours of a major security announcement. Many argue that the federal government must take firmer steps to protect rural communities around the capital before bandits extend their reach further into Abuja’s suburban districts.
Despite the fears, residents say they are willing to support security agencies with intelligence, but they insist that visible deployment of soldiers and police officers is urgently needed.
The Abuja terrorist attack has once again laid bare the fragility of security in territories surrounding the Federal Capital Territory. While the nation awaits further government response, families continue to count the hours since their loved ones were taken, hoping for a breakthrough.
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