FCT Police Arrest One Chance Kidnap Syndicate, Recover ₦8.25m Ransom, Nab Arms Dealer Supplying Bandits

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on criminal activities, arresting a notorious “one chance” kidnapping syndicate, recovering ₦8.25 million ransom and apprehending an alleged arms dealer supplying ammunition to bandits operating across several states.

Addressing journalists at the FCT Police Command Headquarters on Monday, Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said the operations underscore the Command’s commitment to ensuring that crime does not thrive within the nation’s capital.

Six-Member Kidnap Syndicate Busted
According to the police commissioner, operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit launched an investigation on June 29 following a distress call concerning the suspected abduction of a young woman in the Maitama area of Abuja.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded ₦20 million ransom from the victim’s family and subsequently moved her to Kwan-Kwashe Village in Niger State.

Although the suspects eventually collected ₦8.25 million before releasing the victim on July 3, police operatives remained on their trail and arrested six members of the syndicate on July 5 in Suleja, Niger State.

The suspects were identified as:
Ifeoma Nnamchi, 35, alleged gang leader;
Peter Rasheed Onwunumah, 40; Olanipekun Anuoluwa, 46; Jemimah Monday, 25; Gabriel Nnamchi, 14; Stanley Nnamchi, 17.

Police recovered the entire ₦8.25 million ransom, two operational vehicles, several jewellery items suspected to belong to previous victims, seven EarPods, five mobile phones, one laptop and a cutlass.

Investigations further revealed that the alleged gang leader and one of her accomplices had previously been arrested by the FCT Police Command in 2022 and 2019 for similar offences.

The suspects reportedly confessed to carrying out several “one chance” operations along Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road and other parts of the FCT since 2024, extorting over ₦12.8 million from at least five female victims.

Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers and Arms Supplier

In another operation, the FCT Police Command arrested four suspects linked to kidnapping activities and the supply of illicit substances and ammunition to bandits.

The arrests followed clearance operations conducted in remote communities around Kwali, Abaji and Kuje Area Councils, where security operatives dislodged criminal hideouts and raided caves in the Nago Forest.

The suspects arrested include Bello Abdullahi, Shuaibu Iliya, Idris Abubakar and Misbahu Isa.

Police said one of the suspects, Misbahu Isa, led operatives to Zuba Motor Park where they recovered 42 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside his Volkswagen Golf vehicle.

According to the police commissioner, investigations revealed that Isa is an alleged arms dealer who supplies ammunition to kidnappers and bandits operating in Niger, Kaduna and Kogi states.
He was also accused of recently supplying over 20,000 rounds of live ammunition to wanted criminal groups and receiving ₦3 million for the transaction.

Items recovered from the suspects included codeine syrup, cannabis sativa, Tramadol tablets and capsules, assorted drugs, cash, clothing items, a mobile phone and a magazine loaded with six rounds of live ammunition.
Police Arrest 560 Suspects in Abuja Crackdown

The FCT Police Command also announced the arrest of 560 suspects during raids conducted on identified criminal black spots across the Federal Capital Territory.

The operations, carried out through intelligence gathering and community policing initiatives, led to the recovery of a locally fabricated pistol, a locally made AK-47 rifle and three rounds of live 9mm ammunition.

CP Sanusi reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to rid the FCT of criminal elements and urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.

He assured residents that the police would sustain aggressive operations aimed at safeguarding lives and property across the Federal Capital Territory.

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