The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested five suspects allegedly linked to a kidnapping and banditry network operating on the outskirts of Abuja.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this while parading the suspects before journalists in Abuja on Monday.
Sanusi said the arrests followed a clearance operation carried out on June 11, 2026, in the Byazin area of the FCT, during which some bandits were arrested, others were neutralised, and victims were rescued.
According to him, further intelligence gathered after the operation led police operatives to storm another suspected hideout of bandits and kidnappers within the same area, resulting in the arrest of additional suspects.
Among those arrested was Hauwa Shafiu, a heavily pregnant woman accused of serving as a cook and logistics supplier for the criminal gang and their hostages.
“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 commissioner said.
Sanusi said he directed that Shafiu be taken to a hospital after her arrest, where she later gave birth.
“The baby is sound and safe. She too is sound. We have provided every medical need while we watch her recuperate,” he said, adding that she remained under care at the police clinic.
Other suspects arrested were identified as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, and Shamsudeen Mustapha, while another suspect was also linked to the network.
The Commissioner said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were part of a criminal network involved in kidnapping and banditry within and around the FCT.
He explained that the gang had allegedly infiltrated and integrated into a local community located about one kilometre from the FCT boundary, enabling them to gather intelligence and coordinate attacks on targeted persons and locations.
“The group had infiltrated and integrated into a local community just about one kilometre away from the FCT itself, enabling them to gather intelligence and coordinate repeated attacks on targeted persons and locations,” Sanusi said.
Items recovered from the suspects included four motorcycles, 31 pieces of 500mg tramadol tablets, 10 pieces of 50mg tramadol tablets, five phones, one POS machine, cooking utensils and ₦320,000 cash.
The Commissioner said the cash was believed to be part of proceeds from a recent kidnapping ransom.
“According to the confession of one of the suspects, the ₦320,000 was his share of a ₦7 million ransom paid to the kidnappers,” he said.
Sanusi also disclosed that one of the suspects confessed to sending a motorcycle to help two fleeing bandits escape during the June 11 operation, confirming that the suspects who evaded arrest had assistance from within the network.
He further alleged that Mustapha was an active drug supplier to the bandit network.
The Commissioner said the command, in collaboration with the FCT Administration, would demolish identified hideouts used by the suspects.
“We have an arrangement. Since we have identified their houses, we are moving from here to go and demolish those houses in collaboration with the FCT administration. Any such houses that we continue to identify, we will continue to bring down,” he said.
Sanusi also declared several suspected bandits wanted, adding that the police had obtained their photographs and would continue efforts to track them down.
“As they are looking for us, we are equally looking for them,” he said.
