By Faridat Salifu
Residents of EFAB Global Estate, located near the Idu train station and just before the junction leading to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja, were left in shock early Wednesday morning after more than 40 armed men attacked the community, using a nearby cashew plantation as an entry and escape route.
According to a resident who requested anonymity, the attack began shortly before 3 a.m. “Around 2-something in the morning, I heard loud voices and banging from the beginning of my street,” the resident said. “By 3 a.m., they had reached my gate. I saw them from my window—young men, over 40, dressed in black. They had guns, machetes, and sticks.”
He added that while the intruders broke through his gate, they did not enter the house, thanks to a neighbor who activated a security alarm. “They were speaking Hausa. When they broke my gate, one of them shouted ‘Kofa a bude ne’ — the gate is open — and others joined in. They couldn’t see me, but I could see them.”
The attackers spent nearly two hours moving through the estate. Though there were no fatalities, multiple homes were ransacked. Items stolen include:
• Phones: 2 iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro, Samsung S24 Ultra, Samsung Note, Samsung 520, Itel A06
• Laptops and electronics: HP Pavilion laptop, Apple AirPods Pro, Apple Watch Series 5, Samsung smart watch, Zealot speaker
• Jewelry and valuables: 10 assorted wristwatches (brands including Aldemeirs and Lisot), gold chain, 15 rings, 4 cufflinks, wedding band
• Cash and transfers: ₦130,000 in cash and a forced bank transfer of ₦700,000
• Documents: UBA ATM card and work ID
• Miscellaneous: Karl Lagerfeld leather bag, game console (PS1) and two pads
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of EFAB Global Estate, Hon. Bola Aduroshakin, confirmed the incident and called it the most serious security breach in the estate’s 14-year history.
“We got the first alert on our estate platform around three minutes to four. I didn’t hear the gunshots from my side of the estate, but I contacted the Security Committee immediately,” Aduroshakin said.
He acknowledged that fear initially delayed residents from contacting the police. “People were hiding, scared, under their beds. The police were contacted around past 4 a.m. and arrived about 20 to 25 minutes later,” he said.
Two estate security personnel were reportedly injured during the incident and are currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
Aduroshakin noted that while EFAB is a controlled-access estate with strict visitor verification protocols, the rear perimeter fence, which is less than five feet high and borders a dense cashew plantation, remains a major vulnerability. “The cashew trees and nearby shanty settlements have become a known hideout for criminals. We’ve never had this kind of armed invasion, and we are deeply concerned.”
While emphasizing that the cashew plantation was not the cause of the attack, he said its location and lack of oversight made it a natural shield and route for the criminals. “These are Nigerians. They spoke Hausa. We have no known dispute with herders or neighbors, but if nothing is done, next time it could be a tragedy.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police Harrison Oruruo visited the estate after the incident and addressed the residents and journalists. “We received information around 4 a.m. and were at the scene within 25 minutes. Unfortunately, by then the suspects had completed their operation and fled,” he said.
Oruruo confirmed that investigators had identified the route used by the attackers. “The entry point was through the back fence, which is poorly secured and adjacent to the cashew plantation. That’s also where they exited.”
He emphasized the need for faster reporting in emergencies. “If we had received the call as soon as the breach began, we likely could have apprehended them. This estate is large — over 400 buildings. We are now considering establishing a police post here in agreement with the estate management.”
The police are conducting forensic investigations and collecting witness statements.
Both estate leadership and residents are now calling on the FCT Administration to assess the growing security risk posed by unmanaged greenbelts and informal settlements surrounding residential developments.
“This isn’t just about EFAB,” Aduroshakin added. “It’s about how unregulated spaces like the cashew plantation can be exploited by criminals if nothing is done.”