Gunmen have abducted a primary school teacher, Mr. Ishaya Ismaila, while he was harvesting maize at his farm in Tungan Maje, a community in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Residents said the incident occurred around 5:28 p.m. on Thursday, sending shock and fear across the farming community.
According to a resident, Abdullahi Garba, the kidnappers, who were heavily armed, stormed the farm while the teacher was busy harvesting his maize.
He said the assailants emerged suddenly from the bush and forced the victim away at gunpoint.
Garba explained that Ismaila, who had gone to the farm on his motorcycle, screamed for help when the attackers struck.
His cries drew the attention of another farmer nearby, who managed to escape and alert villagers about the abduction.
“The teacher was harvesting maize when the kidnappers appeared with AK-47 rifles,” Garba said.
“He screamed as they dragged him away, but before help could come, they had disappeared into the bush.”
He added that the victim teaches at LEA Primary School, Dakwa 1, in Bwari Area Council, but lives in Tungan Maje with his family.
Wife Appeals for Help
The victim’s wife, Mrs. Halima Ishaya, told Daily Trust that the family has been in deep distress since the abduction.
Speaking through tears, she said her husband had gone to the farm on his motorcycle but never returned home.
“I received a call from my husband’s head teacher around 8 p.m. that he had been kidnapped,” she said.
“I quickly called my neighbours, and we contacted the vigilante group in nearby Anagada village.”
The vigilante team reportedly rushed to the farm that night, but the kidnappers had already fled with the victim.
They only found his motorcycle and a bag of maize left behind.
“We later informed the police, who visited the scene and took photographs, but since then, we’ve heard nothing from them,” she added.
Mrs. Ishaya revealed that the kidnappers have demanded ₦1 million ransom for her husband’s release.
However, the family has only managed to raise ₦185,000 so far.
“We are confused and desperate,” she said. “We don’t even know where to get the remaining money. We are pleading with Nigerians to help us save his life.”
School, Union Confirm Abduction
The head teacher of LEA Primary School, Dakwa 1, Malam Zakari Dantani, confirmed the incident.
He said he received a distress call on Thursday night informing him of the abduction and immediately notified the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) branch in Kubwa.
He also confirmed that communication has been established with the abductors, who are insisting on the ₦1 million ransom.
“We have informed the union’s state wing and relevant authorities,” Dantani said.
“We are hopeful that security agents will help rescue our colleague.”
Another teacher, who spoke anonymously, said colleagues have begun contributing money despite the economic hardship to support the ransom payment.
“It’s painful,” he said. “We’re teachers struggling to survive, yet we’re trying to raise money to save one of us from death.”
A police source at Zuba Division confirmed the abduction, stating that efforts were underway to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victim unharmed.
The incident adds to the growing list of abductions targeting farmers and teachers in rural Abuja communities, sparking renewed fears over rising insecurity in the nation’s capital suburbs.