A retired Nigerian Army officer, Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Michael Eneware, has shared a chilling account of how he narrowly escaped death after a brutal terrorist attack in Karshi, a community on the outskirts of Abuja.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of July 29, has heightened concerns over the increasing activities of kidnapping and terrorist groups within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) axis.
According to Eneware, heavily armed attackers stormed his neighbourhood at about 1:00 a.m., moving from house to house in search of victims to abduct. He explained that the assailants gained access to his compound through an unfinished fence before forcefully breaking into his home.
“They were shooting, destroying property, and dragging people out,” he recounted. “Their mission was clear—they wanted people to kidnap for ransom.”
Eneware was forcefully taken into the bush alongside a neighbour, while his wife and children managed to escape by hiding within the house during the chaos.
As the attackers marched their captives deeper into the forest, Eneware said exhaustion overwhelmed him, making it impossible to continue. Despite repeated pleas, he was reportedly beaten before the gunmen decided to shoot him at close range.
“They shot me in the chest and abandoned me, thinking I was dead,” he said.
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In what he described as a miraculous survival, Eneware later regained consciousness despite severe injuries and blood loss. Summoning strength, he crawled and staggered toward nearby houses where help eventually came after residents and security personnel responded.
He was initially taken to the Nigerian Army Hospital and later transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja, for advanced treatment. Although he has since been discharged, he continues to recover from both physical injuries and emotional trauma.
His neighbour, who was abducted during the attack, was later released after a ransom was reportedly paid.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the retired officer expressed shock at the growing boldness of such attackers within areas once considered relatively safe.
“These people study their environment carefully. They identify weak points and plan their escape routes. They know exactly what they are doing,” he warned.
The attack has triggered heightened vigilance among residents, many of whom are now reinforcing their home security systems with improved fencing, surveillance cameras, and better lighting.
This incident adds to a series of violent attacks recorded around Abuja’s outskirts, raising urgent questions about security and the persistent threat posed by armed groups operating within nearby forests and rural communities.
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