Armed gunmen suspected to be kidnappers launched a brazen attack on Grow Homes Estate in the Chikakore area of Kubwa, Abuja, in the early hours of Monday, kidnapping an unconfirmed number of residents.

According to eyewitness accounts, the heavily armed assailants stormed the residential estate between 12:00 a.m. and 1:30 a.m., overwhelming the local vigilance team and holding residents hostage for more than an hour.

A resident who spoke to reporters confirmed seeing at least two people—a man and a woman—being taken away by the kidnappers. The female victim was reportedly later found within the estate premises after being released by her captors for reasons yet to be determined.

"The incident happened around 12 a.m. Those guys were well-armed and overpowered the local vigilance team," the resident recounted. "The police arrived at about 1 a.m., and there was a fierce exchange of gunfire for about 30 minutes."

The exact number of kidnapped residents remains unclear as investigations continue into the incident.

Residents have appealed to the government to improve infrastructure in the area to enhance security operations. "We are begging the government to fix this road for easier access for security patrol vehicles. We also appeal to the police and, of course, the FCT Administration to help site a station here for rapid response," the resident added.

This attack adds to growing security concerns in the Federal Capital Territory, with similar incidents reported in other estates around Abuja in recent months.

Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident as investigations continue.