Officers from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have apprehended three well-known kidnap suspects believed to be behind a string of violent abductions in Abuja and surrounding states.
In a statement released Thursday and signed by the FCT Command Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the police revealed that 27-year-old Ya’u Shittu from Kaduna State, 30-year-old Sale Usman from Niger State, and 28-year-old Ibrahim Abdullahi from Abuja were arrested during coordinated sting operations conducted between June 13 and 18, 2025, across Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa states by the Command’s Scorpion Squad.
The suspects had long been wanted by the Command and have reportedly admitted to being involved in numerous kidnappings and killings — including the 2024 murder of a pastor in Mpape and the abduction of children in the same community, during which their father was fatally shot. They were also linked to the abduction of a woman for whom a N10 million ransom was paid, with each member allegedly receiving N500,000 as their share.
According to Adeh, the arrests were made possible through “credible digital reconstructive intelligence” and led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey.
Further investigations showed that Ibrahim Abdullahi, who also functioned as the group’s weapon supplier, guided police to a hideout in Bukuru, Nasarawa State on June 18. Upon reaching the location, officers were fired upon by other gang members, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
“Abdullahi attempted to flee but was shot and rearrested. Other gang members escaped and are currently being pursued,” the statement added.
Items recovered from the scene included a long knife and several charms.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao S. Adewale, praised the courage of the Scorpion Squad and reaffirmed the Command’s dedication to maintaining law and order. He called on members of the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to security forces.
“This is a major blow to violent crime in the FCT. We are determined to rid our communities of criminal elements,” he stated.
The arrested individuals remain in custody, while the police continue their search for the remaining gang members still at large.
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