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Insecurity! Abuja-based pastor abducted by suspected gunmen
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A pastor simply identified only as Àjàyí, based in Abuja, was reportedly kidnapped by suspected kidnappers from the El-Rufai Estate in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
The abduction occurred after a period of relative peace experienced by the residents, following a recent series of kidnappings in the FCT.
A resident of the community, identified only as El-Ameen, told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Saturday that the suspects began firing into the air as soon as they entered the community.
El-Ameen added that more abductions might have occurred if not for the prompt intervention of the nearby military, which quickly arrived at the estate to stop the invaders.
“They invaded the estate at about noon on Tuesday. They started shooting into the air, and all the residents could not come out. This has not been reported. It happened in one of the estates called El-Rufai, roughly a few kilometres from the Nigerian Law School.
“I have a property in the estate. A pastor who worked with the education board was kidnapped. They invaded his house after gaining entry into the estate. After shooting for some minutes, they abducted him.
“There was a local vigilante group on the estate, but they were overwhelmed. They could not match the firepower of the gunmen. They were about to go to another house when the soldiers came. They fled immediately after seeing the soldiers.
But they had already abducted the pastor before fleeing,” El-Ameen told our correspondent.
Bandits have attacked communities in Bwari, abducting several residents in recent times. In December 2023, approximately six sisters and their father were taken from their home in the area council.
In response to public concern over the unstable security situation, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, promised in February 2024 that adequate security measures would be implemented in Bwari and the surrounding areas.
He hinted that substantial security forces had been deployed based on intelligence from security agencies to ensure the safety of residents, as well as private and public institutions in the area.
However, a resident known as Danladi, who witnessed the night attack, reported that residents were in shock when gunshots rang out in the estate on Tuesday.
Danladi said, “It happened about two days ago. They didn’t injure anyone, but they abducted one person. They (the kidnappers) have not called the estate since the abduction.
“The pastor lives in the estate. Kidnappings used to happen before. But since the FCT minister brought more security personnel to the area, we have not seen any incidents of the Tuesday attack.
“We were surprised when we heard gunshots. We started hearing gunshots by noon on Tuesday. They were trying to raid other houses in the estate when the joint security forces suddenly showed up.”
The FCT police command did not respond to our correspondent’s inquiries about the incident. Calls and messages to its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, remained unanswered as of the time this report was filed.
Punch
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See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
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