The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced the arrest of a suspected supplier of logistics and illicit drugs to kidnapping gangs, the rescue of an abducted woman without payment of ransom, and the arrest of several robbery and vehicle theft suspects in a series of operations across Abuja.
The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, disclosed the developments during a press briefing at the FCT Police Command Headquarters on Monday, saying the operations formed part of the command’s ongoing crackdown on kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
According to the police commissioner, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested one Umaru Danda, a native of Zamfara State, at Gadabiu village in neighbouring Niger State on July 10 while investigating the July 8 kidnapping attack at Yellow House in Mpape.
Police said investigations identified Danda as a key supplier of hard drugs, logistics and other items used by the kidnappers responsible for the Mpape attack.
Sanusi said the suspect led operatives to three hideouts allegedly used by the gang in Niger State, where officers recovered an AK-47 rifle, large quantities of tramadol, substances suspected to be cocaine and cannabis, cannabis pills, Embazol tablets, digital weighing scales, ATM cards, AirPods, bags and N250,000 cash.
He said the suspect remained in police custody and would be charged to court after investigations.
The police also announced the rescue of a woman abducted by gunmen in Karshi on July 12.
According to Sanusi, the kidnappers fired sporadically before fleeing with the victim, prompting the deployment of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to comb Karshi and adjoining routes linking the FCT with Nasarawa State through the Waru Hills.
He said the victim was rescued unharmed on July 16 at about 12:45 a.m. without any ransom being paid.
The police recovered a painted Makarov pistol, a dagger, military camouflage clothing and assorted charms during the rescue operation.
The command also announced the arrest of four suspected vehicle thieves accused of targeting Bolt and Uber drivers.
The suspects, identified as Ibrahim Ismail, Ahmad Umar, Riskwa Shehu and Umar Abubakar, were arrested on July 7 by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following intelligence.
Police alleged that the suspects posed as ride-hailing passengers before attacking drivers and stealing their vehicles and valuables.
Two stolen vehicles—a Toyota RAV4 with registration number YAB 240 DL and a Honda Civic with registration number ABC 72 JP—were recovered from the suspects.
In another operation on July 14, police operatives arrested three suspected “one chance” robbery and kidnapping suspects after a chase along the Life Camp-Gwarinpa Underpass.
The suspects were identified as Orji Chibueze, 35; Chibuike Odo, 33; and Chibuikem Stanley, 36.
According to the police, officers became suspicious after spotting their heavily tinted Golf vehicle and pursued it when its occupants attempted to flee.
Items recovered from the vehicle included a wig, screwdriver, scissors, knife, rope, cap, three mobile phones and a substance suspected to be cannabis.
Sanusi also disclosed that police foiled an armed robbery attack in Nyanya on July 19 after receiving a distress call at about 4:50 a.m.
He said officers arrived to find five armed men attacking a resident identified as Linus after allegedly digging through the perimeter fence of his shop to gain access to his residence.
The suspects reportedly opened fire on the police, who returned fire, injuring two of them before the gang fled.
A trail of blood allegedly led officers to the arrest of Abdulraman Ismail, 20, at a residence in Area A, Nyanya.
Items recovered included bloodstained clothing, a toy gun, machetes, a digger, a military belt, jewellery, a counterfeit N1,000 note, identity documents, a torchlight, charms and an MTN SIM card.
Police later arrested another suspect, Jamilu Yahaya, 25, who allegedly led investigators to a chemist identified as Junaidu Usman, accused of treating an injured robbery suspect, Danlami Abubakar, who remains at large.
Sanusi said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect, while those in custody would be prosecuted after investigations.
The commissioner further disclosed that the command had recovered five vehicles stolen within the FCT from different parts of the country, adding that while some had been returned to their owners, others remained unclaimed.
He urged residents to continue providing timely information to security agencies, saying public cooperation had contributed significantly to the command’s recent operational successes.
(The Whistler)
