FCT Police engage kidnappers in heavy gunfire, rescue four victims

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command has successfully rescued four persons abducted during a kidnapping attack at the Yellow House area of Mpape, Abuja.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Josephine Adeh disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

The PPRO explained that the command received a distress call on July 8, reporting that suspected kidnappers had invaded Yellow House Area in Mpape area of the FCT at about 10:40 pm and kidnapped four residents.

She said upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi immediately deployed operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, personnel of Katampe and Mpape Police Divisions, and 24 Police Mobile Force Squadron to the scene.

“Upon their arrival, preliminary findings revealed that the assailants had shot two victims before fleeing the scene.

“It was also discovered that the assailants had taken four other victims hostage from a nearby area whom they forcefully marched through Jikoko Hills towards Ushafa Forest.

“The two injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Sadly, one of the victims, identified only as Mr Babangida, later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by medical personnel, while the second victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, is currently responding positively to treatment”, she said.

According to the PPRO, the operatives maintained relentless pursuit of the kidnappers from the night of the incident till Friday, 10th July, 2026, when they located the kidnappers at approximately 12:05 AM around Jikoko Hills heading towards Ushafa Forests with the hostages.

She said that after sighting the advancing operatives, the kidnappers opened fire and engaged the Police team in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

“Demonstrating superior tactical capability, the operatives overwhelmed the suspects, forcing them to abandon the hostages and flee deeper into the surrounding hills and forest in a desperate attempt to evade arrest.

“All four kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed, safely evacuated from the forest, and reunited with their families. While the responding Police teams remain hot on the trail of the fleeing kidnappers”, she added.