Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested six members of a suspected kidnapping and “one chance” syndicate, recovering ₦8.25 million allegedly collected as ransom from the family of a victim abducted in Abuja.
Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, disclosed this on Tuesday during a briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja, where he outlined recent anti-crime operations across the FCT.
According to him, the suspects were tracked and arrested in Suleja, Niger State, after a woman reported missing in the Maitama area was traced to Kwan-Kwashe village, where she was allegedly held captive.
The victim was released on July 3 after her family paid ₦8.25 million, but police operatives continued investigations and arrested the suspects two days later.
The suspects were identified as Ifeoma Nnamchi, Peter Rasheed Onwunumah, Olanipekun Anuoluwa, Jemimah Monday, Gabriel Nnamchi and Stanley Nnamchi.
Police recovered the ransom money, two vehicles, a cutlass, seven EarPods, jewellery suspected to belong to previous victims, five mobile phones and a laptop.
Sanusi said investigations revealed that two members of the gang had previously been arrested for similar offences and that the syndicate had allegedly operated along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road and other parts of the FCT since 2024.
He added that the suspects confessed to carrying out multiple kidnapping and robbery operations, targeting mostly female victims and collecting about ₦12.8 million in ransom payments.
The police commissioner also announced the arrest of four suspected kidnappers and suppliers of ammunition and illicit substances to criminal groups during a clearance operation in communities around Kwali, Abaji and Kuje Area Councils.
The suspects, identified as Bello Abdullahi, Shuaibu Iliya, Idris Abubakar and Misbahu Isa, were arrested after security operatives raided suspected hideouts in the Nago Forest area of Kuje.
According to the police, 42 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from a vehicle linked to Isa, who is suspected of supplying ammunition to criminal groups operating in Niger, Kaduna and Kogi states.
Officers also recovered codeine-based syrups, cannabis, tramadol, ammunition, cash and other exhibits.
Sanusi further disclosed that separate raids conducted across identified criminal hotspots in the FCT led to the arrest of 560 suspects and the recovery of weapons and illicit drugs, including a locally fabricated pistol, a locally made AK-47 rifle and live ammunition.
He assured residents that the command would sustain its operations against criminal networks and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to support security efforts across the territory.
