Abuja, Nigeria – Panic has gripped the residents of Kungaboku and Paze, two rural communities located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of central Nigeria, causing many families to flee their homes. This mass evacuation follows the discovery of a written threat from a suspected armed criminal group, locally referred to as bandits, detailing plans for a coordinated attack on the area. A teacher at a private school in Paze found the warning note tucked inside a young student’s notebook while grading homework. Following the discovery, the local police detained and questioned the student, the parents, the teacher, and school administrators before releasing them.
The planned assault is allegedly a retaliation for a recent military operation. On Saturday, March 7, 2026, soldiers from the 7 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army, working alongside the national police force and local civilian defense groups, carried out a rescue mission near Gidan Dogo in the Bwari Area Council. During this operation, security forces rescued 19 hostages, killed one prominent bandit commander, and recovered one assault rifle along with a locally manufactured firearm. Several other attackers reportedly escaped with gunshot injuries.
Okay News reports that these farming communities have faced escalating violence in recent months. Just one day before the threatening letter was found, armed attackers raided a nearby cattle-herding settlement in Kungaboku, kidnapping three women and demanding a ransom of ₦70 million (about $46,600). Reports confirmed that the region, which borders the Kubwa district of the capital, has become a hotbed for such incidents. In October 2025, gunmen abducted and killed Doctor Ifeanyi Ogbu, a former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association in the capital city, and kidnapped his three children.
More recently, on Thursday, March 5, 2026, attackers invaded Kungaboku again, kidnapping Bankole Ganiyu, a retired military officer, along with three children. His wife, who is a police officer, managed to escape unharmed with two other children. That same day, attackers raided a local farm, killing one civilian guard and abducting three workers, while six others managed to flee. Across the neighbouring community of Paze, residents report that armed groups frequently go from house to house. Over the past two weeks alone, attackers have kidnapped at least 12 people, including the four children of a local clergyman, the wife of a civilian guard leader, and her sister.
To prevent the total abandonment of the communities, the local police commander for the Byazhin district convened an emergency meeting on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The gathering, held at the residence of the traditional community leader, Chief Ishaya Jagaba, aimed to reassure the terrified public. The police confirmed the authenticity of the threat but promised immediate countermeasures, including round-the-clock security patrols based on West Africa Time (WAT). Authorities urged residents to remain alert, monitor the activities of scrap collectors and commercial motorcycle riders who often act as informants for criminal gangs, and properly identify any new individuals moving into the area.
