Gunmen struck once again in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), targeting Grow Homes Estate in the Chikakore area of Kubwa during the early hours of Monday. The incident marks yet another in a string of attacks in the area this year.
The latest raid occurred barely 48 hours after armed men invaded Efab Global Estate in the Idu district, also suspected to be the work of robbers.
Chikakore, situated approximately 30km from central Abuja within the Bwari Area Council, has become a hotspot for violent crimes in 2025.
Back in January, about 20 kidnappers invaded a home in the area, abducting five people, including a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who was later killed in captivity.
In Monday’s attack, a businessman and a housewife were taken during an operation that lasted nearly an hour.
However, the woman was reportedly freed not long after the abduction, when she pleaded with her captors, saying she couldn’t continue the journey. She was dropped outside the community as the group headed for the bush.
A family member of the abducted businessman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the break-in:
“The gunmen, on arrival, removed the barbed wire placed on the house’s fence, before jumping into the compound, and opening its main entrance. Thereafter, they accessed the bungalow after smashing a window attached to it, to meet the man along with his family members. They left with him immediately.”
Attempts to speak directly to the businessman’s wife were unsuccessful.
Overcome with emotion and surrounded by concerned neighbors, she was reportedly screaming as others tried to comfort her and coax her into having breakfast.
Reports confirmed that the gunmen broke into three compounds during their assault.
A resident from one of those homes, who narrowly avoided capture, shared his experience.
“Initially, they headed toward the house where they abducted a woman, whom they later released on their way to the bush. So, from the woman’s home, they came to our compound, but before they arrived, I quickly took cover along with my brother at separate locations.”
“I was able to have a glance at their movements throughout the operation from the place where I took cover. They initially cut the security wire attached to the house’s fence, and forced its gate open.”
The resident continued, describing how the intruders attempted to enter through the main door but eventually smashed a window instead.
“They wanted to enter through the main door attached to the bungalow, but when they realised that it was not going to be opened easily, they went toward one of the windows, and broke the attached burglary. They tried to locate us but didn’t succeed.”
A security guard stationed at the estate responded to the attack by firing gunshots from a concealed position, but this only intensified the situation.
“As the operation was ongoing, one of the security guards attached to the estate moved down to our site, from the estate main entrance, where their office is located.”
“He fired some gunshots from afar, where he took cover. But instead of the gunmen fleeing from our area, they moved toward his direction, firing gunshots in retaliation.”
“The security guard had tactically withdrawn immediately. It was the police van’s siren that arrived about an hour into the operation that caused the attackers to end their operation and leave with the two victims, a businessman and the released housewife,” he said.
This marks the third reported attack on the estate, which remains under development.
In prior incidents, 24 people were kidnapped, and one was confirmed killed.
Residents revealed that the attackers had previously entered through a fence around the phase 4 section of the estate.
After hunters were deployed to secure that area, the assailants began breaching the estate through a section near the railway line connecting Abuja and Kaduna.
In the aftermath of the latest assault, ongoing construction projects and block-making businesses inside the estate have been put on hold.
Workers were seen gathered in groups, discussing the night’s events. Police units from Byazhin and Kubwa have since been making visits to the area.
The FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement.
“The FCT Police Command, on Monday, 26th May 2025, at about 1am, received a distress call from police officers stationed in front of Grow Homes Estate, Kuchibuyi village in Byazhin, reporting an attack by armed assailants and requesting reinforcement.”
She further explained how officers responded:
“Upon swift deployment to the scene, it was discovered that the armed attackers had breached the estate through the rear perimeter fence and forcefully abducted two victims.”
“The responding police officers exchanged gunfire with the attackers for about 40 minutes and rescued one of the victims, identified as Chinyere Joe. Unfortunately, the attackers escaped with the second victim.”
Adeh confirmed that security operations are ongoing:
“The command’s Anti-Kidnapping unit, in collaboration with the army and other security operatives, has since launched an operation to track down the fleeing suspects and ensure the safe rescue of the remaining abducted victim.”
