Four people have been killed by armed robbers on Tuesday at One-Man Village, near Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
The gun wielding attackers stormed Wisdom Supermarket, located along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway in Nasarawa State and took security operatives, customers and attendants unawares.
Mararaba is about 27 kilometres away from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Abuja city and the satellite towns around it have been in the news in recent times over increased activities of criminals, who have been dispossessing people of their valuables, abducting residents and killing others at will even after payment of ransom.
Tuesday’s incident at One-Man Village was the latest of such daring attacks.
When our reporter visited the scene yesterday, the atmosphere was tense as people were seen discussing the issue in groups.
Some of those who spoke to Daily Trust said it was like a dream considering the time the attack was launched.
It was also observed that the plaza housing the supermarket had been sealed.
A source privy to the incident said the criminals made their way into the crowded shopping mall at exactly 8:30pm demanding money and ransacking everywhere.
A resident, who was at the scene of the incident, Mr. Adamu Jacob, described the incident as unfortunate.
He noted that armed robbers and sundry criminals were having a field day in all parts of Abuja, parts of Nasarawa and Niger states with little or no resistance from authorities.
A security operative in a nearby compound said the attackers covered their faces.
“We saw some of their accomplices on the other side of the road. When they entered the shop, they shouted and asked those inside to lay flat.
“They did what they wanted to do and fled, it was unfortunate,” he said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nasarawa State Command, DSP Ranham Nansel, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.
He said: “Yesterday around 8:40pm, we got information that four unidentified armed men attacked one Wisdom Supermarket and opened fire on some customers.
“On the receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Nadada, deployed the Divisional Police Officer of the New Karu division that is close to the scene.
“Upon their arrival, they discovered that four people were shot. They now evacuated them to the hospital where the doctor confirmed them dead and they were deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
“The Commissioner of Police in turn deployed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigative Department to the scene to carry out a comprehensive investigation. So, investigation is ongoing to unveil the people behind the attack,” he said.
Talatu Musa, who was approaching the supermarket when she heard sporadic gunshots, said she took a detour and escaped.
“I took a cover at a filling station not far from the place…I wonder what would have happened because I was with my children heading to the supermarket. We thank God for our lives.
“I later heard of what transpired over the radio this morning (yesterday) that some people were killed during the siege; that is why I came back together with my husband, at least to sympathise with the victims,” she said.
Talatu also called for a new approach to policing the FCT and the contiguous states.
“The truth is that nowhere is safe any longer, including those living in the heart of Abuja. This should be seen as a national emergency,” she said.
Daily Trust reports that thousands of people working in Abuja have their residences in the outskirt of the town.
And over time, people in many communities in the six area councils of the FCT have continued to live in fear and agony because of constant attacks and abductions by bandits.
Even though some of the incidents have been reported by the media, a new trend where by the bandits or armed robbers force residents out of their communities around the seat of power, or storm business districts in day light, is akin to some of the happenings in neighbouring Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kaduna states.
Before now, the bandits only stormed communities, steal food and other necessities and then abduct some people for ransom. However, recent happenings suggest a new approach by the bandits which is more dangerous and deadly.
For instance, on Tuesday, armed men invaded Garam community of Niger, near the Nigeria Law School in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
A resident, Ismaila Musa said it was tough for them. “We didn’t sleep at all throughout the night. We hope the federal government will do something,” he said.
Not long ago, about 2,000 people were displaced following an attack on Adagba community in Yaba ward of Abaji Area Council of the FCT.
The bandits, numbering over 1,000 and wielding sophisticated weapons, rode on motorcycles from the neighbouring Zago village in Niger State and went on rampage, killing a 23-year-old man, Nura Mai Gyada and abducted eight villagers, including a nine-year-old girl, Daraja Bature.
Daraja’s corpse was later found behind the Local Education Authority LEA (primary) in the community the next morning and later buried.
