By Nicholas Ojo
A Pastor at House of David ministry international Abuja, Timothy Ehizua, has been identified as one the eight people abducted in Tuesday night’s attacked at Extension 2 Relocation, along Arab Road, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The attack was said have lasted for about an hour where a man popularly known as Oshodi was shot dead, while an ex-corps member identified as Adenike and seven others were abducted.
The gunmen who invaded the area around 6:40pm also shot another male, who has been taken to the hospital because he was unconscious.
Quest Times, after visiting the scene on Wednesday, gathered that the gunmen dressed like security men and started knocking on people’s gates, while abducting whoever came out of the gate.
A resident who simply gave his name as Kingsley, said Adenike was kidnapped in her father’s house, noting that the gunmen shot sporadically at Amilomania Street and later moved to Toyin Street.
According to Kingsley, a Point of Sale (POS) operator in the area and one other person escaped while they were being whisked away through the hills.
“Seven others were kidnapped alongside Adenike. But two others, including a POS operator who were among the ten earlier kidnapped, escaped and are safe now,” he said.
However, the POS operator told Quest Times that the gunmen were seven in number, noting that four of them held dangerous weapons while three were with machetes. He added that a Pastor was also abducted.
“A Pastor from House of David ministry international Abuja, Timothy Ehizua, that we stay on the same street, came to greet me in my shop, and we decided to go home together before we were both abducted by the gunmen.
“I escaped when we were climbing the hill because I don’t know whether I would have come back alive if I followed them.
I just took the risk and ran when they lost concentration after shooting the two guys.
“I don’t know where I got the strength from, it was God that saved me,” he added.
The FCT Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Josephine Adeh.
The police spokesperson explained that an aggressive manhunt on the perpetrators resulted in the rescue of three victims, stressing that the command also recovered firearms and ammunition, including 1 AK47 Rifle and 25 rounds of ammunition.
The statement reads in part; “The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has commenced investigations into the reported case of security breach occasioned by armed robbery, shooting and abduction of some persons in the Kubwa Relocation Estate, off Arab Road area of the FCT on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Babaji Sunday notes that the swift response of the Command, in an aggressive manhunt on the perpetrators, resulted in the rescue of three (3) victims and the recovery of firearms and ammunition, including 1 AK47 Riffle, 25 Rounds of ammunition.
“Preliminary investigations however revealed that at about 1930hrs (7:30pm) of December 6, 2022, some armed criminals came into the Kubwa Relocation Estate, shot two victims, one Oshodi and another Abdulwahab (both other names unknown).
“The suspects while departing the scene, left with four victims, possibly, to enable them evade arrest by the approaching Police response team deployed to the area on quick intervention.
“The two gunshot victims were immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention but unfortunately, one of them, Oshodi could not survive as he was confirmed dead by the Doctor, while Abdulwahab is still being attended to.
“Meanwhile, the CP calls for calm, noting that the Command has since deployed intelligence and other operational asset possible to fortify security in the entire Kubwa area and its environs. He assures that investigations have since commenced to identify the suspects and bring them to book, while ascertaining their mission and motives.
“The Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicion or untoward situation through the following numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached through 0902 222 2352,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, House of David Ministry International Abuja said the abductors have not contacted the Church for any ransom, when contacted by Quest Times.