By Kingsley Omonobi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected informant linked to kidnapping gangs, along with four other suspects, as part of ongoing operations targeting criminal networks involved in kidnapping and banditry across the territory.
The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed that the arrests followed a recent anti-kidnapping and rescue operation conducted in the Paze–Byazhin area of the FCT on June 9, 2026.
According to the police commissioner, a follow-up operation was carried out on June 11, during which operatives raided a suspected kidnapping and banditry hideout in the same area and arrested four suspects identified as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, Hauwa Shafiu and Shamsudeen Mustapha.
Police said preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects are linked to a criminal network allegedly involved in kidnapping and banditry activities within and around the FCT.
Investigators further alleged that members of the group had integrated into local communities, enabling them to gather information and coordinate attacks on targeted individuals and locations.
One of the suspects, Hauwa Shafiu, was alleged to have provided logistics support, including food supplies, to members of the criminal group and their hostages. Police said she was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest and later gave birth while in custody. The command stated that medical care was provided to both mother and child.
Items recovered during the operation included four motorcycles, quantities of tramadol tablets, N320,000 in cash, five mobile phones, a Point of Sale (POS) machine and cooking utensils.
Sanusi attributed the success of the operation to information provided by residents and urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.
He reiterated that security remains a collective responsibility and called for sustained cooperation between residents and law enforcement agencies to enhance safety across the FCT.
Police said investigations are ongoing.
