The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping and banditry syndicate operating around the outskirts of Abuja, including a heavily pregnant woman alleged to have served as a cook and logistics supplier for the criminal gang and their captives.
The arrests were announced on Monday by the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Ahmed Sanusi, during a parade of the suspects before journalists in Abuja. The police chief said the operation was part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle criminal hideouts and restore safety in communities around the nation’s capital.
According to Sanusi, the suspects were apprehended following a successful clearance operation carried out by security operatives in the Byazin area of the FCT on June 11, 2026. During the operation, several suspected bandits were arrested, others were neutralised in gun battles with security personnel, while a number of kidnapped victims were rescued from captivity.
The police commissioner explained that intelligence gathered from the initial raid led operatives to another suspected hideout within the same vicinity, where additional arrests were made. Among those arrested was a woman identified as Hauwa Shafiu, who investigators believe played a significant support role in the activities of the gang.
Sanusi revealed that despite being heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest, Shafiu allegedly remained actively involved in providing food supplies and other logistical support to the criminal network. “As a follow-up to that operation, upon further engagements, we stormed a suspected bandit and kidnapper’s hideout within the same area and arrested some suspects,” the commissioner stated.
“One of the suspects, Shafiu, operates as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal gang and their hostages. She was responsible for preparing meals and ensuring the movement of supplies needed by the gang while victims remained in captivity.” The police said preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were part of a wider criminal network responsible for a series of kidnapping incidents and other violent crimes within the FCT and neighbouring communities.
Security sources disclosed that the syndicate allegedly maintained camps in remote locations around Abuja, where kidnapped victims were held while ransom negotiations were conducted with their families. Investigators are currently working to determine the extent of each suspect’s involvement and identify other collaborators who may still be at large.
The arrest of the pregnant woman has generated considerable public attention, with many expressing surprise at the alleged role she played within the criminal organisation. Police authorities, however, maintained that anyone found aiding or supporting criminal activities would be prosecuted in accordance with the law regardless of gender or personal circumstances.
Sanusi commended the efforts of officers involved in the operation, noting that the success of the raid demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and collaboration among security agencies operating within the FCT. He assured residents that the command remains committed to flushing out criminal elements hiding in forests, abandoned settlements and other difficult terrains around Abuja and its environs.
The commissioner also appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in tracking down kidnappers, bandits and other criminal groups threatening public safety. He stressed that community cooperation remains essential in the fight against insecurity, adding that many recent successes recorded by the police were made possible through actionable intelligence supplied by residents.
Meanwhile, the arrested suspects are expected to face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations. Police authorities said efforts are ongoing to uncover the full structure of the criminal network, recover additional weapons and rescue any remaining victims who may still be in captivity.
The latest arrests come amid intensified security operations across the Federal Capital Territory aimed at curbing kidnapping, banditry and related crimes that have posed security challenges in several communities surrounding Abuja. Residents have welcomed the development, expressing hope that sustained operations by security agencies will further weaken criminal gangs and improve safety across the territory.
Authorities have reiterated their determination to ensure that all individuals connected to the syndicate, whether directly involved in attacks or providing logistical support, are identified and brought to justice.
