RCCG pastor, three others killed, 39 kidnapped as bandits invade communities in Abuja, Niger state

RCCG pastor, three others killed, 39 kidnapped as bandits invade communities in Abuja, Niger state

Four persons have been killed while 39 others were abducted when bandits invaded Kuduru, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and two communities Garam and Azu in Niger State.

Garam community which is about five minute drive from Bwari was invaded on Saturday, December 23, by bandits killing a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), while 13 other persons were kidnapped.

On Thursday, December 28, bandits again invaded Kuduru, which shares a boundary with Garam, and kidnapped 18 persons.

Also on Friday, December 29, bandits invaded Azu, killing three people and kidnapping eight others.

A resident of Garam, who identified herself as Mrs. Juliana said the first house the bandits entered, they asked for the house of their target.

“The bandits entered a wrong house, kidnapped two boys who later led them to the house of their target,” she said.

“When they got there, they kidnapped the entire family, but while leaving the house, they shot the man (their target), who is a pastor at the Redeemed Christians Church of God in the presence of his wife and their three children,”

It was further gathered that when the wife realised that she left her six month old baby behind, she asked for permission of the bandits to go carry the baby, and she was followed back to the house by the only female among the bandits.

“However, when the female bandit ran out of patience, she left the woman, joined the others and went with the other kidnapped persons who were 13 in number.”

The pastor’s wife, it was gathered, is a teacher in one of the government secondary schools in Bwari.

Another eyewitness said the bandits made their way to the house of a military personnel, asking for his rifle and uniform from the wife.

“The wife told them that her husband is on duty. They, however, kidnapped two of his children.”

The eyewitness added that 13 persons were kidnapped, while a five year old boy of the Redeemed pastor that was killed was abandoned by the bandits at the river side because he could not cross the river.

The boy was reportedly rescued by the vigilante who went on the trail of the bandits.