Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory Police Command, have arrested a pregnant woman and four other suspected members of a kidnapping and banditry network operating around Abuja.
The woman, Hauwa Shafiu, was accused of supplying food and other logistics to criminals and their captives.
Other suspects arrested included Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, and Shamsudeen Mustapha, among others.
FCT commissioner of police, Ahmed Sanusi, who disclosed this yesterday while parading the suspects in Abuja, said the operation was a breakthrough in the efforts to dismantle criminal groups operating on the outskirts of the capital.
According to him, the arrests followed a security operation carried out in the Byazin area of the FCT on 11 June, during which some suspects were apprehended, others neutralised and kidnapped victims rescued.
CP Sanusi further said Shafiu allegedly served as a cook and logistics provider for the gang despite being heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest.
According to him, “As a follow-up to that operation, upon further engagements, we stormed a suspected bandit and kidnapper’s hideout within the same area and arrested some suspects.
One of the suspects, Shafiu, operates as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal gang and their hostages.
“She was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest, even though her pregnancy did not deter her from continuously committing this heinous crime.”
The police commissioner said Shafiu later gave birth after being taken to a hospital on his directive and is currently receiving medical care.
“The baby is sound and safe. She too is sound. We have provided every medical need while we watch her recuperate,” he added.
