… Recover Arms in a major operation
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has foiled a planned large-scale attack on a community within the Territory, following credible intelligence and a coordinated tactical operation by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
According to a statement signed by SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Abuja, the development comes on the heels of recent kidnapping incidents in the ACO community, Gwagwalada, and Bwari, prompting the FCT Commissioner of Police to direct the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to intensify operations aimed at dismantling the syndicate behind the attacks.
Police investigations later revealed that the gang had concluded plans to launch another violent attack on or before December 1, 2025, with the intent to abduct residents, demand ransom, and unleash further violence.
Acting on intelligence, operatives on November 30, 2025, at about 2:11 p.m., traced and arrested one of the gang’s key members, identified as Sani Mohammed Umar, also known as Boko, a wanted kidnapper and armed robbery suspect. His mobile phone, believed to be the primary device used in coordinating the gang’s operations, was recovered during the arrest.
Further investigation confirmed that the suspect belonged to the group responsible for kidnappings in ACO and Dupa communities in Gwagwalada, as well as armed robbery incidents in Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. He reportedly confessed that his accomplices were waiting for him at Gada Biyu Hills in Kwali to commence their next operation.
At about 11:01 p.m. the same day, the Anti-Kidnapping team, led by the Officer-in-Charge, advanced into the forest, reached the gang’s meeting point, and laid an ambush. The armed bandits opened fire upon sighting the operatives, sparking a fierce 30-minute gun duel. Three members of the gang were neutralised, while others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
Recovered from the scene were:
- Three AK-47 rifles
- Three magazines containing 33 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition
A joint operation with the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operation Base (FOB), 176 Battalion, Kwali, is ongoing, with security personnel combing the forest and blocking all escape routes. Medical facilities in the area have been placed on alert to report anyone presenting with gunshot wounds.
The FCT Commissioner of Police commended the gallantry and professionalism of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and expressed appreciation for the intelligence support provided by members of the public. He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue sharing timely information with security agencies.
