Finally Boko-Haram Storms Abuja, 20 persons abducted In Community.

By Rowlandgate.

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja were yesterday gripped with fear as yet to be identified Boko-Haram invaded Tunga Maji community that lies between Zuba, FCT and Niger state abducting no fewer than 20 people.

The attack came few days after a purported memo from the Nigerian Custom Services alerted Nigerians that terrorists have flooded Abuja, Kogi and Nasarawa states and are planning to carry out coordinated attacks on five identified locations.

A resident of the Tunga Maji community, who gave his name as Mr. Ezekiel Denzi explained that the Boko-Haram entered the community at about 12.30am and that after sporadic shooting that lasted for about an hour uninterrupted, kidnapped no fewer than 20 people during gun battle with local Vigilante. 2 children among victims of attack in Tunga Maji village of FCT

Another resident of the community, Mrs. Pious Bala in her own account on the incident said the shooting started in the community at about 1a.m and lasted more than an hour, while local vigilante group were overpowered.

“It is very unfortunate that such an incident is happening in this hard period. We could not sleep throughout the night. It’s this morning that members of the vigilante group told us that about 20 people were abducted.

“We heard last week that the authorities were informed of the entrance of Boko Haram members in Abuja but nobody took the report serious. We are appealing to government to help before all of us are killed”, she stated.

The FCT Police Command confirmed the attack insisting however that more than 20 people were abducted in Tungan Maji, a suburb of Abuja yesterday morning.

In a statement, the FCT police spokesperson, Anjuguri Manzah, a Deputy Superintendent said police had “rescued” five out of 10 abducted residents.

“The FCT Police Command wishes to assure the public that protection of lives and property remains the core of its policing mandate and it will continue to inject fresh strategies that will place the security of the Federal Capital Territory at its optimum.

“The Command wishes to inform the public that when it received a distress call on Kidnap of some persons on September 10, 2020 at about 0130hrs in Tungan Maji, a village bordering FCT and Niger state, a joint team of Police operatives from the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Rapid Response Squad and Zuba Police Division responded swiftly to the occasion.

“During a fierce gun confrontation with the heavily armed hoodlums, the Police team successfully rescued five of the kidnapped victims.

“Meanwhile, a concerted effort has been deployed to rescue the remaining five victims that are still with the hoodlums who escaped into Niger state through a nearby forest that is surrounded by rocky terrain.

“The Command reassures members of the Public of its commitment to deploy proactive crime-fighting measures to ensure the security of lives and property in FCT”, the statement added.

It would be recalled that last weekend, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS had put its officers on alert over Boko Haram planned attack in Abuja, Kogi and Nasarawa states to avoid being caught off guard.

A memo which was later disowned by the service claimed that intelligence reports revealed that Boko Haram terrorists have flooded the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and its environs and are planning to carry out coordinated attacks on five identified locations.

The security alert to its officers was contained in an internal memo entitled: “Re: Intelligence on national security” dated August 20, 2020 and signed by the Comptroller, Enforcement of Customs headquarters, H.A Sabo which has since been disowned.

“Information reaching the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) reveals the existence of Boko Haram Terrorist Camps (BHTs) in and around the Federal Capital Territory.

“Further reports have it that they are planning to attack some selected targets within the territory. They are reported to have set up their camps in the following identified enclaves: “Kunyam Bush along Airport Road off DIA Staff Quarters-Abuja; Robochi/Gwagwalada Forest; Kwaku forest, Kuje, Abuja; Unaisha forest in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa State and Gegu forest, close to Idu town in Kogi State.

“Consequently, you are to be at alert and security conscious of your environment at all times”, the memo said.

In a swift reaction, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) strongly denied media reports claiming it issued a red alert on security agencies over a purported terrorists’ attack in Abuja, and neighbouring states.

A supposed internal memo of the Service, which was released late last week, indicated that the terrorists were regrouping around Abuja, Kogi and Nasarawa States, all in North-central Nigeria.

The controversial memo, purportedly signed by the Comptroller, Enforcement of NCS headquarters, H.A Sabo, disclosed that the terrorist group had camped in five prominent locations in Abuja, with plans to unleash terror on residents of the city.

But in a text message in response to enquiries on the memo by Nigeria Pilot, the Service spokesperson, Joseph Attah denied issuing such statement saying “don’t know the source of that “memo”, we are still investigating.”

Also responding to the memo, the military allayed fears of Abuja, Kogi and Nasarawa residents assuring that it will in conjunction with other security agencies continue to ensure ‘effective surveillance’ of Abuja and its neighbouring states to prevent an attack by Boko Haram.