The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command says it has foiled a major kidnapping plot by a notorious syndicate operating across the territory, killing three suspected bandits and recovering weapons during a sting operation.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, December 1, noting that the breakthrough followed recent kidnapping incidents in the ACO community, Gwagwalada and Bwari.
She said the Commissioner of Police had directed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to intensify efforts to dismantle the syndicate responsible for the attacks.
According to Adeh, credible intelligence indicated that the syndicate had planned another violent attack on or before December 1, 2025, targeting residents for ransom.
“Acting swiftly on this intelligence, FCT Police operatives on November 30, 2025, at about 2:11 p.m., traced and arrested one of the key conspirators, a wanted kidnapper and armed robbery suspect named Sani Mohammed Umar, a.k.a. Boko. His mobile phone, suspected to be the primary device used in coordinating the criminal operations, was also recovered,” she said.
The PPRO added that investigations confirmed the suspect’s involvement in kidnapping and robbery attacks in ACO, Dupa and Gwagwalada, as well as armed robbery operations across Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
She stated that the suspect confessed that other gang members were waiting for him at Gada Biyu Hills, Kwali, where they had converged ahead of their next community attack.
Adeh said the Anti-Kidnapping team, led by the Unit Commander, advanced into the forest late Saturday night based on the suspect’s confession.
“At about 11:01 p.m., the Anti-Kidnapping team reached the gang’s meeting point and laid an ambush. On sighting the operatives, the heavily armed bandits opened fire. The police responded decisively, engaging the criminals in a 30-minute gun duel during which three of the bandits were neutralised,” she stated.
Other gang members reportedly fled with gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from the scene include three AK-47 rifles, three magazines and 33 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Adeh added that a joint operation with the Forward Operation Base of the Nigerian Army, 176 Battalion, Kwali, was ongoing, with personnel combing the forest and blocking escape routes.
Medical facilities in the area have also been placed on alert to report anyone with bullet wounds.
The Commissioner of Police commended the gallantry of the operatives and urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies.
News360 Info reports that the latest development comes barely a week after an FCT police officer was killed during an operation to repel an attempted kidnapping in Guto Village, a border community in Bwari Area Council.
According to Adeh, about 30 armed men invaded the community and attempted to break into a residence.
“The attackers opened fire upon sighting security teams, leading to a gun duel in which two suspects were killed while others escaped into nearby bushes,” she said.
She added that a police officer who sustained a gunshot injury during the exchange was rushed to Bwari General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
