Suspected kidnappers who stormed Ado community near the Etsu Palace after Mararaba, in Zone C off the Karu-Keffi Abuja Expressway, have demanded a ransom of ₦50 million following the abduction of a senior officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Pastor Dare Bello, along with his neighbour, Eugene.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, threw the quiet community into shock and fear. Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the area around 1:00 a.m., shooting heavily and breaking into homes. The attackers reportedly overpowered the local security men and carried out their operation without resistance.
A community leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that the abductors had made contact with leaders in the area and were already in talks with them over the ransom. He confirmed that negotiations were ongoing and could be concluded soon.
According to information gathered, Eugene, one of the two kidnapped men, was released due to his health condition, but the situation turned tragic when another resident of the estate was shot and killed for resisting the kidnappers during their operation.
Reverend Eniola Olatunji, a respected journalist and a neighbour to Pastor Dare, recounted the terrifying moments: “The residents were woken up at around 1 am with several gunshots and banging on doors to scare away our security guards. After the arrival of the men of the police who came two hours after, the operation were seen in groups discussing the incident.”
