48-year-old provisions seller, Chinedu Arinze, has been kidnapped by gunmen, who carted away foodstuffs and drinks from his shop in Adagba community in Yaba ward, Abaji area council, Abuja.
According to Daily Trust, a resident of the community, James Gwatana, said the incident happened on Monday, around 8:11 pm when Muslims were observing prayers.
He said the kidnappers, who came in their large numbers wielding sophisticated weapons, invaded the provisions store and whisked away the victim amidst sporadic shooting, forcing villagers who were going to the shop to buy items to turn back.
Gwatana said, “The kidnappers struck when Muslims were observing prayers. They invaded the provisions shop while some of the gang members stood outside shooting into the air before they whisked away the victim.”
He said the kidnappers also went away with over 100 phones that were brought to the victim’s shop for charging by some villagers.
The vice-chairman of the council, Abubakar Abdullahi, who confirmed the abduction said; “In fact, I was at the village when the incident happened around 8:00 pm. I started hearing gunshots. I was later told that one Arinze Chinedu who sells provisions has been kidnapped,” he said.
The FCT police spokesperson, DSP Adeh Josephine, had yet to comment on the incident as at the time of filling this report.