Many residents of Kungaboku and Paze communities in the Federal Capital Territory have abandoned their homes after suspected bandits allegedly sent a letter threatening a coordinated attack.
The letter, which was reportedly discovered in a pupil’s school bag at a private school, warned that the bandits planned to attack Kungaboku and neighbouring Paze in retaliation for the killing of their commander.
It will be recalled that on March 7, troops of the 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, working alongside police officers and vigilantes, rescued 19 kidnapped victims.
The victims, most of whom were residents of Paze and Kungaboku, regained their freedom during a joint search-and-rescue operation carried out around Gidan Dogo in the Bwari Area Council.
During the operation, security operatives reportedly killed one bandit, while others escaped with suspected gunshot injuries.
Further operations in the area led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle and a locally made firearm.
The threat letter was said to have been found in a pupil’s notebook at a private school in Paze by a teacher while marking the child’s homework.
After the alarm was raised, the pupil, the parents, the teacher and school authorities were taken in by the police for questioning, profiled and later released.
News of the threat quickly circulated within the communities, with residents sharing the information through various community groups and social media platforms.
Tension increased further when, a day before the letter surfaced, suspected bandits attacked a Fulani settlement in Kungaboku, abducted three women and demanded a ransom of N70 million.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kungaboku and Paze, located near Byazhin, an extension of Kubwa in Bwari Area Council, have experienced several violent attacks in recent times.
NAN recalled that in October 2025, a veterinary doctor, Dr Ifeanyi Ogbu, was killed in Kungaboku, a farming community that hosts many livestock, poultry and fish farmers.
Ogbu, who was the former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, FCT Chapter, was kidnapped alongside his three children and later shot dead in an open field while the children were taken away.
On March 5, suspected bandits also attacked Kungaboku and abducted a retired military officer, Bankole Ganiyu, along with three children.
During the incident, Ganiyu’s wife, a police officer, and two other children in the house managed to escape without injury.
That same day, the attackers also raided a farm settlement where they killed a vigilante on duty, abducted three workers, while six others managed to escape.
In Paze, residents said the attacks have been recurring, with armed groups invading nearby settlements and moving from house to house abducting residents.
Within the past two weeks alone, no fewer than 12 people, including women and children, have been kidnapped by gunmen.
Those abducted included four children of a pastor, as well as the wife of a vigilante leader and her sister. In another incident, the attackers reportedly left a baby behind.
To address the latest threat and prevent residents from fleeing in large numbers, the Divisional Police Officer of Byazhin convened a meeting on Saturday.
At the meeting, which was held at the palace of the community head of Kungaboku, Chief Ishaya Jagaba, the police confirmed the existence of the letter but assured residents that proactive security measures were being put in place.
Residents were advised to stay vigilant and monitor the activities of commercial motorcyclists and scavengers, who sometimes act as informants for attackers.
They were also urged to properly profile new residents moving into the community to ensure they are not criminals or informants.
Regarding the proposed construction of a police post in Kungaboku, the DPO encouraged residents to take proactive steps to facilitate the project.
He also assured the community that regular day and night security patrols would be conducted to prevent any possible attack.
For now, anxiety remains high in Kungaboku and Paze, as many homes have been deserted while residents wait to see whether the promised security measures will prevent another attack.
However, community leaders have urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, assuring them that cooperation with security agencies could help prevent further violence.
