A 16-year-old boy and six young girls have been abducted from Gidan-Bijimi in Kawu ward, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Gidan-Bijimi borders Marke village near Kaduna State. Suleiman Shuaibu, a local resident, told reporters on Thursday that armed bandits raided two homes around 9:47 pm, seizing six girls aged between 17 and 23, along with the 16-year-old boy. The attack involved sporadic gunfire, throwing the community into panic.

Shuaibu said that local vigilantes tried to confront the gunmen but were forced to retreat due to their superior firepower. Some residents reportedly fled their homes, and attempts to contact the abductors have not been successful.

SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, had not responded to calls or text messages at the time of reporting.

The incident comes after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike ordered a boost in security across Abuja, including enhanced monitoring of borders and entry points. A joint security operation involving police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other agencies has been deployed in the capital.

FCT Police Commissioner CP Miller G. Dantawaye urged the joint security team to coordinate effectively to curb crime and reassured residents that adequate resources have been provided to ensure their safety.