By AWC News Desk | Abuja
Nigeria is reeling once again after fresh bandit attacks in Bwari Area Council of Abuja and Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, where at least 30 people were kidnapped between last Wednesday night and early Friday morning.
The coordinated assaults—occurring barely 48 hours apart—have intensified fears over rising insecurity around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the vulnerable border communities linking Niger State.
How the Attacks Unfolded
1. Bwari, Abuja – Gunmen Storm Zuma 2, Kidnap 7
Residents of Zuma 2 community, near Kuchiko and Garam along the Abuja–Kaduna axis, reported that bandits invaded around 1:30 a.m., shooting sporadically and breaking into multiple homes.
Eyewitnesses told AWC that the attackers operated for over an hour without resistance, abducting about 7 people, including women and children, before escaping through the forests connecting Bwari to Kaduna State.
2. Shiroro, Niger State – 24 Abducted in Kwaki & Chukumba Villages
In Shiroro LGA—one of Nigeria’s most terrorised communities—bandits launched simultaneous attacks on Kwaki, Chukumba, and Farin Doki villages.
Local vigilante sources said more than 24 villagers were kidnapped, livestock rustled, and several houses looted.
Shiroro, a known hotspot for terror groups linked to Ansaru and ISWAP factions, has witnessed relentless assaults on communities, mining sites, and security formations.
Nationwide Anxiety as Attacks Move Closer to Abuja
The proximity of the Bwari attack to Nigeria’s capital has deepened national anxiety, especially as:
- Bwari shares forest corridors with Kaduna, a long-standing bandit haven.
- Previous attacks in the area have targeted schools, worship centres, and military personnel.
- Security experts warn that terror cells may be attempting to re-establish influence around FCT’s outskirts.
Parents in the affected district have begun withdrawing children from schools, while community leaders report a mass exodus of residents to safer locations.
Implications: A Dangerous Security Trend
1. Capital Territory Under Pressure
Repeated attacks around the FCT perimeter raise concerns of a creeping encirclement strategy by armed groups.
2. Economic Impact
Fear-induced displacement is destroying agricultural productivity in Niger State—the food basket for Abuja—raising risks of:
- food inflation
- scarcity of produce
- abandoned farmlands
3. Erosion of Public Confidence
Nigerians online have expressed frustration, describing the attacks as evidence that “bandits are regaining momentum despite security operations.”
Government and Security Agencies React
FCT Administration
A source within the FCTA security committee confirmed that security deployment has been intensified in Bwari, with reinforcement from:
- Police Special Tactical Squad
- Guards Brigade
- Civil Defence
- Local vigilante groups
The FCT Minister has summoned an emergency security meeting to reassess threats around Bwari, Kuje, and Gwagwalada.
Niger State Government
Governor Umaru Bago condemned the Shiroro attack and assured residents that:
- military clearance operations are underway in forests connecting Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi LGAs;
- the government is working with troops of Operation Whirl Punch and Operation Safe Haven for joint action.
Federal Government
A senior official from the Ministry of Defence stated that the latest attacks would be tabled at this week’s National Security Council meeting, adding that the government is “not taking the FCT-border incursions lightly.”
Communities Call for Stronger Federal Action
Residents of Bwari and Shiroro have issued renewed calls for:
- permanent military bases in their districts
- aerial surveillance
- improved intelligence sharing
- better funding for local vigilante groups
Traditional leaders warn that unless decisive action is taken, the bandits “will continue expanding their territories.”
AWC Outlook
The latest kidnappings are a stark reminder that Nigeria’s security battles are far from over.
The danger is especially severe when attacks are staged so close to the nation’s capital.
What Nigerians want now is not reassurances, but visible, sustained, and effective action.
AWC will continue monitoring developments.
