Police destroy kidnappers den in Abuja, arrest five, recover weapons

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory(FCT), police command said it has destroyed a bandit camp in Gwagwa and arrested five kidnappers.

The suspects Umar Abdullahi, a.k.a. Auta 20, Likita Abubakar 29, Salisu Sani 24, Sabiu Mohammed, and Aliyu Suleiman 24, were said to have been responsible for the kidnapping incident in Gwagwa on June 12, 2024, where the kidnapped a victim and collected N12million as ransom from the family.

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, who made this known, said they were arrested during a sting operation conducted between June 30 to July 3, at Gwagwa and Dei-Dei.

She listed items recovered from the suspects to include Four AK-47 rifles, a Dane gun, two magazines, and eight unexpended live ammunition.

Adeh in a statement said, “In a continuous effort to rid the nation’s capital of criminality, the operatives of the FCT police command from the Utako division, in a two-day streak operation between June 30 and July 3, 2024, acting on credible intelligence, trailed and arrested five (5) notorious kidnappers at Gwagwa and Dei-Dei, Abuja, respectively.

“The suspects, Umar Abdullahi, a.k.a. Auta 20, Likita Abubakar 29, Salisu Sani 24, Sabiu Mohammed, and Aliyu Suleiman 24, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping incident in Gwagwa on June 12, 2024, where a victim was kidnapped, the sum of twelve (12) million naira was collected as ransom from the victim’s family, and two others were killed. They are also responsible for several kidnappings and other heinous acts in the Capital Territory.

“Four AK-47 rifles, a Dane gun, two magazines, and eight unexpended live ammunition were recovered from the suspects, as they have all confessed to the crime.

“While the investigation is still ongoing, the commissioner of police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, reaffirms the command’s steadfast commitment to ensuring the security and safety of residents. He also urges the residents to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines in reporting suspicious activities through 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192.”