By Tgnews Reporter, Abuja
In a daring midnight raid, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted a local businessman, Muhammad Shuaibu, and his two daughters, including a 200-level university student, from their home in Zhibi community, a settlement bordering Dei-Dei town near Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The incident, which occurred around 12 a.m. on Friday, has left residents of the community in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State in fear, as they demand stronger security measures.
According to family sources, the assailants gained entry into Shuaibu’s residence by breaking through the backyard door and destroying the burglar-proof padlock. They then forced their way into the room where Shuaibu’s wife was sleeping.
“She woke up suddenly to see them inside her room, so she quickly ran toward her husband’s room,” a relative told Daily Trust. The gunmen rounded up the family in the sitting room, threatening to abduct everyone.
However, after the wife’s desperate pleas, the attackers spared her and her baby, taking only Shuaibu and his daughters.
The kidnappers also seized the couple’s mobile phones and demanded food items, which were unavailable in the house at the time. As of Monday afternoon, no communication had been received from the kidnappers, intensifying concerns for the victims’ safety.
The Zhibi community, located near the FCT but under Niger State’s jurisdiction, has limited security presence, with residents noting only a handful of police officers stationed in the area. Frustration has mounted over the alleged refusal of the nearby Dei-Dei Police Division in the FCT to intervene, citing jurisdictional boundaries.
A senior police source confirmed the abduction and stated that efforts were underway to apprehend the perpetrators.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who are now urging the Niger State Government and the FCT Administration to enhance joint security operations to prevent further attacks. “This is a wake-up call. The government needs to act before this gets out of hand,” a community member said.
The abduction underscores the growing insecurity in areas surrounding Nigeria’s capital, where kidnapping for ransom has become a persistent threat. Authorities have yet to provide updates on the victims’ whereabouts or the progress of rescue efforts.
