Many residents of Kungaboku and Paze communities in the Federal Capital Territory have fled their homes following a letter by suspected bandits threatening a coordinated attack.
In the letter, allegedly found in a pupil’s school bag in a private school, the bandits vowed to attack Kungaboku and neighbouring Paze to avenge the killing of their commander.
It would be recalled that on March 7, troops of the 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, alongside police and vigilantes, rescued 19 kidnapped victims.
The victims, mostly residents of Paze and Kungaboku, regained their freedom during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation conducted around Gidan Dogo in Bwari Area Council.
During the operation, troops reportedly killed a bandit, while others fled the scene with suspected gunshot wounds.
Further exploitation of the area led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle and one locally fabricated firearm.
The threat letter was reportedly discovered in a pupil’s notebook at a private school in Paze by a teacher while marking the child’s homework.
After raising the alarm, the pupil, parents, teacher and school authorities were picked up, interrogated, profiled and later released by the police.
Meanwhile, news of the threat spread rapidly, with residents sharing the information across various community groups and social media platforms.
To worsen matters, a day before the letter surfaced, suspected bandits attacked a Fulani settlement in Kungaboku, kidnapped three women and demanded a N70 million ransom.
Kungaboku and Paze, near Byazhin, an extension of Kubwa in Bwari Area Council, have witnessed several violent attacks recently.
In October 2025, Ifeanyi Ogbu, a veterinary doctor, was killed in Kungaboku, a farming community hosting hundreds of livestock, poultry and fish farmers.
Mr Ogbu, former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), FCT Chapter, was abducted with his three children and later shot in an open field, while the children were taken away.
On March 5, suspected bandits also attacked Kungaboku and abducted a retired military officer, Bankole Ganiyu, and three children.
Mr Ganiyu’s wife, a police officer, and two other children who were in the house during the attack managed to escape unharmed.
During operations that same day, the bandits attacked a farm settlement, killed a vigilante on duty and abducted three workers, while six others escaped.
At Paze, residents said the attacks were recurring, with armed groups raiding nearby settlements and moving from house to house abducting residents.
No fewer than 12 people have been kidnapped by gunmen in the past two weeks, including women and children.
Among those kidnapped were four children of a pastor and the wife of a vigilante leader and her sister, while in another incident a baby was left behind.
To address the latest threat and stop residents from fleeing in droves, the Byazhin Divisional Police Officer convened a meeting on Saturday.
At the meeting held at the palace of Kungaboku’s community head, Ishaya Jagaba, police confirmed the letter but assured residents of proactive security measures.
Residents were advised to remain vigilant and regulate the activities of commercial motorcyclists and scavengers, who sometimes act as informants for attackers.
They were also advised to profile new residents moving into the community to ensure they are not criminals or informants.
On the proposed construction of a police post in Kungaboku, the DPO urged residents to take proactive steps toward achieving the project.
He assured them that regular day-and-night security patrols would be conducted within the community to prevent any attack.
For now, fear hangs over Kungaboku and Paze, with deserted homes and anxious residents awaiting whether the promised security measures will prevent another attack.
Community leaders, however, urged residents not to panic but remain vigilant, assuring them that cooperation with security agencies could deter further violence.
(NAN)
