Police arrest two suspected kidnappers, recover AK-47 in FCT-Nasarawa operation

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismantled a kidnapping syndicate responsible for a series of abductions and killings along communities bordering the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the police said operatives of the Force Intelligence Department-Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS) carried out intelligence-led operations between June 24 and 26 in Gbagalape in the FCT, Mararaba in Nasarawa state, and Abuja.

The police said two suspected members of the syndicate were arrested during the operation. The suspects were identified as Buhari Adamu, 25, and Abubakar Saidu, 28.

According to the police, the suspects are believed to have played active roles in a series of kidnappings, murders and other violent attacks within the FCT-Nasarawa axis.

The force said preliminary investigations linked the syndicate to the May 16 attack on Gbagalape community, a border settlement between the FCT and Nasarawa state.

The police said several residents were abducted during the attack, while others were killed or sustained gunshot injuries. It added that some of the victims were later killed after ransom demands had been made.

Following the arrests, the operatives raided the gang’s hideout at Gbagalape Hills. The police said one AK-47 rifle, 22 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 14 cows and three sheep suspected to be proceeds of crime were recovered from the hideout.

The force added that the suspects have made useful statements to investigators, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.

On his part, IGP Tunji Disu reaffirmed the force’s commitment to intensifying intelligence-led operations against violent criminal networks across the country.

Disu commended the operatives of the FID-STS for their professionalism and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support crime prevention and investigation.