The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested five suspects linked to a kidnapping and banditry syndicate operating on the outskirts of Abuja, including a heavily pregnant woman accused of cooking for and supplying logistics to the criminal gang.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this while parading the suspects before journalists in Abuja on Monday.
According to the police chief, the arrests followed a clearance operation conducted on June 11, 2026, in the Byazin area of the FCT, during which several bandits were apprehended, others neutralised, and kidnapped victims rescued.
Sanusi identified the female suspect as Hauwa Shafiu, alleging that she played a key support role for the gang by preparing meals and providing logistical assistance for both the kidnappers and their captives.
“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,” he said.
The commissioner revealed that following her arrest, she was taken to a hospital on his directive, 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 stated, adding that the suspect remains under medical care at the police clinic.
Other suspects arrested in the operation were identified as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa and Shamsudeen Mustapha.
Police investigations, according to Sanusi, indicate that the suspects belonged to a criminal network responsible for kidnapping and banditry attacks within and around the FCT. He said the gang had embedded itself within a local community situated about one kilometre from the FCT boundary, enabling members to gather intelligence and coordinate attacks.
“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,” he explained.
Items recovered from the suspects included four motorcycles, 41 tramadol tablets of varying strengths, five mobile phones, a Point of Sale (POS) machine, cooking utensils and N320,000 in cash.
The police commissioner disclosed that one of the suspects confessed that the cash represented his share of a N7 million ransom paid by relatives of a kidnapping victim.
“According to the confession of one of the suspects, the N320,000 was his share of a N7 million ransom paid to the kidnappers,” Sanusi said.
He further revealed that another suspect admitted providing a motorcycle that enabled two bandits to escape during the June 11 security operation.
Sanusi also accused Mustapha of supplying drugs to members of the criminal network.
As part of efforts to dismantle the gang’s operations, the commissioner announced that the command would work with the FCT Administration to demolish properties identified as 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.
The commissioner also declared several wanted bandits at large, warning that security operatives would intensify efforts to track them down and bring them to justice.
“As they are looking for us, we are equally looking for them,” he added.
