Tuesday, June 16, 2026 - The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested five suspects allegedly linked to a kidnapping and banditry network operating on the outskirts of Abuja, including a pregnant woman accused of providing food and logistical support to members of the group.
The development was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police,
FCT Command, Ahmed Sanusi, while briefing journalists in Abuja.
According to the police commissioner, the arrests followed a
clearance operation carried out in the Byazin area of the FCT on June 11, 2026,
during which some suspected bandits were arrested, others were neutralised, and
kidnapped victims were rescued.
Sanusi said further intelligence-led operations led security
operatives to another suspected hideout, where additional suspects were
apprehended.
“One of the suspects operates as a logistics supplier and
cook for the criminal gang and their hostages. She was heavily pregnant at the
time of her arrest, yet her pregnancy did not deter her from continuously
committing this heinous crime,” he said.
The police commissioner disclosed that the suspect,
identified as Hauwa Shafiu, was taken to hospital following her arrest, where
she later delivered a baby.
“The baby is sound and safe. She too is sound. We have
provided every medical need while we watch her recuperate,” Sanusi stated.
Among those arrested were Hauwa Shafiu, Yahaya Abdullahi,
Muhammed Yunusa, and Shamsudeen Mustapha.
According to the commissioner, preliminary investigations
indicate that the suspects were allegedly part of a network involved in
kidnapping and banditry activities within and around the Federal Capital
Territory.
“The group had infiltrated and integrated into a local
community just about one kilometre from the FCT, enabling them to gather
intelligence and coordinate repeated attacks on targeted persons and
locations,” he said.
Items recovered during the operation included four
motorcycles, quantities of tramadol tablets, five mobile phones, a Point of
Sale (POS) machine, cooking utensils, and N320,000 in cash.
Sanusi said investigators suspect the money may be linked to
proceeds from a recent kidnapping operation, adding that one of the suspects
allegedly confessed that the amount represented his share of a ransom payment.
The commissioner also alleged that one of the suspects
admitted providing a motorcycle to help two fleeing bandits escape during the
June 11 operation.
He further accused Mustapha of supplying illicit drugs to
members of the criminal network.
Sanusi announced that the command, in collaboration with the
Federal Capital Territory Administration, would move to demolish structures
identified as hideouts for the suspects.
He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other
individuals linked to the alleged network, while several wanted suspects had
already been identified by security agencies.
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