Residents of Kungaboku and neighbouring Paze communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have begun fleeing their homes following the discovery of a threat letter allegedly issued by suspected bandits warning of an impending attack.

The letter, reportedly found inside a pupil’s school bag at a private school in Paze, warned that the armed group planned coordinated attacks on Kungaboku and surrounding communities to avenge the killing of one of their commanders.

The development has heightened anxiety across the affected communities, which have recently witnessed a surge in kidnappings and violent attacks.

The threat emerged days after troops of the 7 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the police and local vigilantes, rescued 19 kidnapped victims during a joint search-and-rescue operation around Gidan Dogo in Bwari Area Council on March 7.

Most of the rescued victims were residents of Paze and Kungaboku who had earlier been abducted by suspected bandits.
During the operation, security operatives reportedly neutralised one bandit, while others fled the scene with suspected gunshot wounds. Troops also recovered an AK-47 rifle and a locally fabricated firearm.

According to reports, the threatening message was discovered by a teacher while marking a pupil’s homework. The teacher subsequently alerted school authorities.

The pupil, alongside the parents, teacher and school management, were later invited by the police for questioning, after which they were profiled and released.

News of the discovery quickly spread across the communities through social media and local messaging platforms, triggering panic among residents.

Tension escalated further after suspected bandits attacked a Fulani settlement in Kungaboku a day before the letter surfaced, abducting three women and demanding a ransom of N70 million.

Kungaboku and Paze, located near Byazhin in the Kubwa axis of Bwari Area Council, have experienced several violent incidents in recent months.

In October 2025, Dr Ifeanyi Ogbu, a veterinary doctor and former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (FCT chapter), was abducted in Kungaboku alongside his three children. He was later shot dead in an open field while the children were taken away by the abductors.

Similarly, on March 5, suspected bandits attacked the same community and abducted a retired military officer, Bankole Ganiyu, along with three children.
Ganiyu’s wife, a police officer, and two other children who were in the house during the attack reportedly escaped unharmed.

In another incident on the same day, armed men stormed a nearby farm settlement, killed a vigilante on duty and abducted three workers, while six others managed to escape.

Residents of Paze have also reported repeated raids by armed groups who move from house to house abducting victims.
Community sources said at least 12 people, including women and children, have been kidnapped in the past two weeks alone.

Among the victims were four children of a pastor, as well as the wife of a vigilante leader and her sister. In one incident, abductors reportedly left behind a baby during the operation.

In response to the latest threat, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Byazhin convened a meeting with residents and community leaders on Saturday at the palace of the Kungaboku community head, Chief Ishaya

During the meeting, the police confirmed the existence of the threat letter but assured residents that proactive security measures were being implemented to forestall any attack.

Residents were advised to remain vigilant and closely monitor the activities of commercial motorcyclists and scavengers who sometimes serve as informants for criminal groups.

They were also urged to properly profile new residents moving into the community to ensure they were not informants or criminal elements.

The police further called on the community to support the proposed construction of a police post in Kungaboku and assured residents that security patrols would be intensified.

Despite these assurances, fear continues to grip Kungaboku and Paze, with some homes already deserted as anxious residents await further developments.

Community leaders, however, have appealed for calm and urged residents to cooperate with security agencies to prevent further violence.