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Residents of the Kungaboku community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed for a police post, permanent deployment of security personnel, and other infrastructure following violent attacks by suspected bandits.
The appeals were made at an expanded residents’ meeting presided over by the community head, Ishaya Jagaba, and at a Kungaboku Farmers Association meeting chaired by a retired Captain, Wale Adebayo.
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Kungaboku, a predominantly farming community with hundreds of livestock, poultry, and fish farmers, is located near Byazhin, an extension of Kubwa in the Bwari Area Council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that suspected bandits stormed the community on Thursday night, abducting a retired military officer, Bankole Ganiyu, and three children.
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Mr Ganiyu’s wife, a police officer, and two other children in the house during the attack, however, managed to escape unharmed.
During the operation, which reportedly lasted between 11 p.m. and midnight, the bandits also attacked a farm settlement, killed a vigilante member on duty and abducted three workers, while six others escaped.
In a cheering development, the seven abductees were among the 19 kidnapped victims rescued on Saturday by troops of the 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, working in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and members of a local vigilante group.
The victims were reportedly rescued during a coordinated search and rescue operation conducted around Gidan Dogo in the Bwari Area Council.
NAN also recalled that in October 2025, Ifeanyi Ogbu, a veterinary doctor and former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, FCT Chapter, was killed in Kungaboku by suspected kidnappers who whisked away his three children from his home.
At the expanded meeting, the residents noted that, given the level of economic activity in the community and the presence of large, modernised farm establishments, Kungaboku deserved a police post with permanent deployment of security personnel.
They also underscored the need to equip the existing vigilante group in the community, incentivise the members and work in synergy with surrounding communities to curtail attacks.
The residents said they were ready to provide land and basic infrastructure for the police post within the community.
They appealed to the FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Miller Dantawaye, to promptly approve and provide the modalities for the setting up of the police post.
In the interim, they urged the CP to approve a regular police patrol within the community and its surroundings to deter attacks and restore residents’ confidence.
Zephaniah Moses, a former youth leader in the community who spoke on behalf of the village head, lamented that, following the attacks, many residents had fled their homes and farmhouses for safer havens and urged the CP to take prompt action.
He also appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to address the infrastructure deficit in the community, particularly the access road and the primary health centre, which are in deplorable states.
Mr Adebayo, chairman of the farmers’ association and a resident for over a decade, said Kungaboku used to be peaceful and safe until the recent developments.
He said the community’s peace and safety attracted many high-profile individuals to establish farm settlements and even live there.
Narrating the latest attacks, Mr Adebayo explained that shortly after vigilante members on duty left the area near Mr Ganiyu’s house, kidnappers struck, abducted him and three children.
He said that after receiving a distress call from neighbours, he joined the men on duty and contacted the police for deployment to the community.
Mr Adebayo added that while they were outside, another distress message appeared on the farmers’ association WhatsApp platform, reporting that a member’s farm was under attack.
He said they quickly moved to the farm but discovered the attackers had already finished their operation before the police patrol team arrived.
The retired captain stressed that with police presence in the community, the response would have been faster, and the attacks might have been repelled with vigilante support.
Narrating the ordeal, the farm owner, Nnamchi Ephraim, said the attackers came in large numbers.
He said the attackers, after gaining access to the premises, opened fire on the armed security personnel.
Mr Ephraim, a lawyer, said it was heartbreaking because the victim had assumed work at the farm that very night.
He said nine workers were on duty that night; three were abducted, while some hid in the ceiling and others scaled the fence and fled into nearby bushes.
He commended one of the abducted workers who insisted there were no other workers on the farm, even when the attackers threatened to kill them.
Mr Ephraim said the attackers broke into a room and opened fire into the ceiling, but fortunately, it was not the room where some workers were hiding.
He said when the vigilante group and police patrol team arrived, the escaped workers returned and were taken to the hospital, while the security man’s corpse was deposited in the morgue.
The lawyer said that after the incident, none of the workers was willing to stay overnight at the farm; they only came to feed the birds and livestock before leaving.
He urged prompt intervention to secure the community, protect workers, and safeguard his multi-million-naira investment and those of other farm owners.
Another farm owner, Michael Ifesemen, a Merchant Navy officer, underscored the need for farmers operating in the community to demonstrate corporate social responsibility.
He noted, however, that relevant government institutions must create an enabling environment for farmers to effectively fulfil such responsibilities.
Mr Ifesemen also stressed the importance of cooperation and proactive measures among farmers, residents, and indigenes to ensure the community remains safe.
A leader of the police patrol team stationed at the community after the attack assured the safe return of the kidnapped persons.
The officer, simply identified as CSP Adache, advised residents to make available useful information that would assist the police in fighting crimes and protecting the community.
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Meanwhile, the residents have stressed that establishing a police post and strengthening local vigilante operations would significantly improve response time to security threats and restore confidence among farmers and other inhabitants.
They also urged the FCT administration to address critical infrastructure gaps, particularly the deplorable access road and the primary health centre, noting that improved facilities would enhance security, economic activities, and the general well-being of residents.
The community maintained that with coordinated support from security agencies, government authorities and neighbouring communities, Kungaboku could reclaim its reputation as a peaceful hub for thriving agricultural investments and safe residential living.
(NAN)
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