UNKNOWN GUNMEN KILL FAMILY OF SIX IN ABUJA

The case of the alleged gruesome killing of Idris Abubakar, 15; Adamu Abubakar, 20; Rabi Abubakar, 25; Habiba Jibrin, 22; and two other victims who were simply identified as Muhammad, about 25 years old and Hauwa who was above 50 years shows that one may be waiting for death while relaxing in the comfort of one’s once peaceful abode.
It was gathered these six persons were killed on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 by unknown gunmen who invaded their homes in a Fulani settlement, otherwise known as Fulani camp in Ruga, near Pyakasa, a suburb near Federal Housing Junction, Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
But how did it happen? Malam Abubakar Abubakar, a cattle rearer at the small Fulani settlement narrated the gory incident.
According to him, their settlement has been a peaceful place for the past 20 years when they came to settle there. But at about 10.55pm on October 28, something happened that spread fear, anguish, sorrow and mourning among the residents.
At that time in the thickness of the night when Adamu Abubakar was relaxing with his friend, Muhammad, who came to visit him, suddenly, some men numbering about six, accosted them and opened fire on them. They died immediately because they were shot at close range. No argument! No raising of voice, no muscle-flexing before they were shot.
As the rest of the people in the camp were attracted by the gunshot and rushed out to know what was happening, they got their own share of bullets. Fifteen-year old Idris was also shot down and killed by the gunmen. That was not all.
“My wife, Rabi; my mother-in-law, Hauwa and my younger brother’s wife, Habiba, were also killed by the assailants”, Malam Abubakar narrated.
According to him, the attack left five other members of his family with different degrees of injuries, including maiming.
Abubakar said, “In the attack, my mother, Amina Abubakar’s hand was cut off. She also had about six machete cuts on her back. As I talk to you now, she is at National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment; my wife, Amina, also sustained gun-shot injuries and is recuperating at Asokoro Hospital. My wife’s sister was also shot on one leg and above the right breast; she is at National Hospital.
“My two-year son, Umar Abubakar, was shot above the knee and is at Asokoro Hospital as well as Bilkisu Suleiman who also had gun-shot injuries”.
While narrating the shocking ordeal, Abubakar looked completely cheerless as he was weighed down by the trauma of the alleged killings.
Malam Abubakar also lost livestocks just as he lost members of his family. According to him, the assailants also killed six cattle and about 20 goats on his farm.
However, he explained that the attackers neither attempted to cart away any of the killed animals for meat nor did they demand for money as armed robbers usually do. At this, Abubakar said the attackers could not be likened to cattle rustlers since their mission was not to hijack any cattle but rather to kill.
In an attempt to find out if there was any previous incident between the Fulani community and any other persons that could have resulted in a reprisal attack, Abubakar said, “No, there was nothing like that. We never had any issue with anybody since we came here over 20 years ago. So, I don’t know what the gunmen wanted”.
Abubakar further narrated that when the attackers had left their camp after the attack, they gathered that they (gunmen) went to an estate near Goshen Villa, Pyakasa, where they stole two cars and headed to Lokogoma, near Apo area of the FCT. According to him, luck ran against them as the police nabbed them and dragged into their net.
Abubakar said the issue had been reported to the police through the head of Fulani Community in Lugbe, Sarkin Fulani, who was alerted immediately. The Sarkin Fulani contacted the police which resulted in the arrest of the syndicate around Lokogoma as he said.
“The way it is now, we have lost our beloved relatives and have buried them. They can’t come back to life again but we are appealing to the government to ensure that the killers do not go scot-free. We want justice to be done. Importantly, they should explain what brought them to our camp and what their mission was because we have always lived here peacefully. We find this incident very shocking”, he lamented.
It was very shocking to listen to seven-year-old Muhammadu Rufai whose mother, Rabi, was killed in the attack.
Rufai said,” I witnessed shock. I was with my mother when she was shot, then I ran away into the bush that night. Now, I feel very sorrowful. At this age, I have lost my mother and I have been exposed to this kind of feeling. I only want the government to help me and kill those that killed my mother. They shouldn’t go free”.
When the FCT police public relations officer, Mr Anjuguri Mamzah, for comments, he confirmed the incident but said he would not make further comments as the FCT commissioner of police (CP), Mr Wilson Inalegwu, had already made a comment on the matter and other crime incidents in the FCT.
Mr Mamza quickly made the CP’s statement available. The comment reads in part, “Following a distress call received last week that a gang of dare-devil armed robbers had invaded an estate at Pyakasa, stolen two cars and in an attempt to escape shot and killed some innocent persons, the Police rescue team swiftly responded to the situation and in an attempt to escape, two members of the syndicate who are presently helping the command in its investigation were arrested. Two cars stolen from the estate and arms used for the operation were recovered from the suspects in our custody”.
The bereaved relatives of the deceased were happy that some of the attackers who killed their relations had been arrested by the police. However, the huge task ahead may be ensuring that justice is met. For the little Rufai who lost his mother in the attack, all he wants is that the government should kill those who killed his mother. Only time will tell if justice would be met to pacify the bereaved or if Rufai’s wish of sending his mother’s killers to their own graves will be met too.