Gunmen have kidnapped no fewer than nine residents from Grow Homes Estate along Kuchibiyi in the Kubuwa area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The gunmen numbering about 20 were said to have stormed the estate around 11:30 pm on Friday.

A resident of the community who simply identified himself as Hassan told our correspondent on the phone that the victims were captured from two separate apartments in the estate.

He added that the incident had caused panic in the community.

He said, “On Friday, at about 11:30 pm, some gunmen in their large numbers came to carry out an operation at Grow Homes Estate along Kuchibiyi. We heard the sound of gunshots, there was panic in the entire community as a result of the incident.

“This morning, we went to the estate and we learnt the gunmen were about 20. They moved from one apartment to the other dispossessing residents of their belongings. They also kidnapped at least nine persons, including children and women from two apartments in the estate.

“They escaped through the bush which linked the community to Paze village. The police and the estate security have been searching the bush since morning to see if they can rescue the kidnapped residents.”

When contacted, spokesperson for the police in Abuja, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident.

She added that the police and the estate security were combing the bushes in the area to ensure the victims were rescued.

Punch