The security situation in Phase 4, Guduwa community by Camp Lavet, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, signalled a new low as gunmen numbering about 20 earlier today, Thursday, August 8, reportedly stormed the community, moving from house to house, stripping the occupants of their valuables at gunpoint.
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According to survivors of the uninvited August visitors, the criminal elements came calling at about 2 a.m., grouped themselves, and started breaking into houses in a coordinated manner, stabbing and collecting valuables as fast as they could before moving into the next house.
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Several persons were stabbed during the coordinated robbery operation including a private security guard who was later confirmed dead a few hours after the attack that lasted for about 40 minutes, a source hinted.
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Preliminary investigation revealed that the area had experienced such an attack four years ago while a resident was also abducted some five months ago.Â
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The community has been relying on self-efforts in collaboration with the District Police in Nyanya, to secure their lives and property to some extent.
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“The armed robbers came around 2 a.m. and from the look of things, they were determined to rob all the houses. They divided themselves into groups possibly to finish within a short time considering the time they came in,” a source lamented.
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“Some were robbing from the beginning of the road here while other groups were robbing from the other end to zero-in on the houses at the centre.
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“We noticed that each of the groups had a watchman who alerted those breaking into houses to rush out when the police came. At one point, we thought they were kidnappers because we could hear them shouting “advance, advance” as they ran away.Â
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“Luckily for us, the police were able to know what was happening and their timely arrival saved a lot of us from these criminals.
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“So, the policemen were able to overpower them and in a few minutes, everywhere was calm again.
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“It was a terrible experience as gunshots were being heard from all angles which we later learned was an exchange of fire between the police and the armed robbers.”Â
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A top security apparatus who spoke in confidence further corroborated the earlier speaker that the sporadic shooting was a gun duel between the police and the criminal elements.Â
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According to the source, the robbers had laid ambush before the arrival of the policemen which made the police fire teargas to smoke them out and take to their heels. Â
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However, the police were able to recover a car belonging to one of the residents, a laptop, and a plasma television.
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The security source, however, appealed to the people residing in the area to cooperate with the police and sister agencies, concerning the security of the area because security should be everyone’s business.
