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ABUJA, NIGERIA – Suspected bandits have killed a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) during a midnight gun battle near Rock Garden City Estate, popularly known as Dangbana, in Jikwoyi, Abuja, further exposing the growing insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory’s satellite communities.
The attack, which occurred between about 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, reportedly erupted as armed kidnappers attempted to collect ransom for one of two women abducted earlier from Phase 4, Jikwoyi.
Residents said the victims were taken to the rocky area near City College, an area long suspected to serve as a hideout for criminal gangs operating around Jikwoyi and neighbouring communities.
According to community sources, the kidnappers later contacted the victims’ families and demanded a ransom of ₦100 million for their release.
One of the victims was reportedly freed after her family delivered ransom to the abductors before the confrontation that later turned deadly.
Trouble, however, started when another group carrying ransom money for the release of the second woman arrived near Rock Garden City Estate in the dead of the night. Members of the CJTF on routine patrol reportedly became suspicious after noticing the movement of a large amount of cash at such an unusual hour and moved to question those involved.
The suspected kidnappers allegedly opened fire, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire with the vigilantes.
In the ensuing battle, a CJTF operative, identified as Mr. Sunday John, was shot dead, while another person sustained gunshot injuries to the hand.
The sound of the gunfire drew estate security personnel and residents to the scene, resulting in a prolonged gun duel that lasted several minutes.
Amid the confusion, the individual carrying the ransom reportedly fled for safety, while the kidnappers allegedly recovered the money and escaped through the surrounding bushes and mountainous terrain.
Residents also recounted how a commercial motorcyclist and his passenger, who were operating in the area around 11:00 p.m., became trapped in the chaos. The motorcyclist reportedly abandoned his motorcycle at the CJTF office while fleeing for safety, only for the vehicle to be found burnt when security operatives later returned to the location.
The death of the vigilante operative has plunged the community into mourning. Mr. John was being laid to rest in Jikwoyi on Sunday morning as residents paid tributes to him for his courage and sacrifice.
“We have lost a gallant defender of our community. These men put their lives on the line every day despite the dangers and limited support available to them,” a resident lamented.
Residents, however, expressed relief that both kidnapped women have now regained their freedom and reunited with their families.
The latest incident has heightened concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Abuja’s satellite settlements, including Jikwoyi, Orozo, Kurudu and Karshi, where cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and ransom extortion have become increasingly frequent.
Community leaders have called on security agencies and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to launch coordinated operations aimed at dismantling criminal camps hidden within the rocky terrains surrounding the affected communities and to strengthen security patrols to prevent further attacks.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the police authorities as of press time were unsuccessful.
However, the incident comes amid intensified efforts by the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, ****, who has adopted a hands-on approach in confronting kidnapping and violent crimes across Abuja and its environs.
In June 2026, the police commissioner personally led a joint tactical operation involving the FCT Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), local vigilantes and hunters in raids on suspected kidnappers’ hideouts in the Paze and Byazhin communities. The operation reportedly led to the rescue of five kidnapped victims, the neutralisation of two suspected kidnappers, the arrest of two others and the recovery of two AK-47 rifles.
Security analysts say the police chief’s direct involvement in field operations demonstrates renewed determination by the FCT Police Command to tackle the rising wave of kidnappings and violent crimes threatening residents of the nation’s capital and its outskirts.
For grieving residents of Jikwoyi, however, the latest attack serves as another painful reminder of the urgent need for sustained and coordinated security interventions to restore peace and confidence in Abuja’s vulnerable satellite communities.
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