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These heavy firefights come on the heels of an active five days in and around Abuja.
On 22 July 2022, local sources claimed that "unknown gunmen" targeted the Zuma community which houses Veritas University, a Catholic school in Bwari, Abuja. Reports claim these gunmen kidnapped several locals from the community, but it was unclear if the university was the target or the community at large. The militants reportedly demanded N500,000 per victim as ransom.
Three days later, on 25 July, the Federal Government College in Kwali urged students to vacate dormitories two days earlier than their scheduled end of term, due to an abduction attempt. Approximately 73km away, gunmen also attacked the Nigerian Law School in Bwari and troops from the Nigerian military were ambushed while patrolling the area. Despite initial reports of successfully repelling the militants by authorities, newer information suggests that thirteen soldiers from the supposedly elite military forces of the Nigerian military, including their commander, Captain Samuel, were kidnapped during the skirmish.
TRAC suspects that these "unknown gunmen" are likely affiliated with ISWAP, as the organization formally announced its presence in Abuja with the claiming of the prison break at Kuje Prison in Abuja on 06 July 2022. ISWA has been known to kidnap individuals, although, not to the degree that the so-called “Bandits” have. However, an abduction at a college in the heart of Abuja would be a massive propaganda win, spreading fear throughout the capital territory. ISWA’s predecessor organization, Boko Haram, famously attacked schools and kidnapping students. The most famous of these kidnapping of the Chibok girls.
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