The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing campaign against violent crime, arresting 570 suspects, dismantling kidnapping and “one chance” syndicates, recovering ₦8.25 million ransom, arms, ammunition and illicit drugs in a series of coordinated operations across the nation’s capital and neighbouring states.
Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, disclosed the achievements during a press briefing at the FCT Police Command Headquarters in Abuja, where he reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to ensure that criminal elements have no safe haven within the Federal Capital Territory.
Six-Member ‘One Chance’ Gang Arrested
Sanusi said the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit launched an operation on June 29 following the reported abduction of a young woman in Maitama.
According to him, the kidnappers demanded ₦20 million from the victim’s family before eventually collecting ₦8.25 million and releasing her on July 3 after moving her to Kwan-Kwashe village in neighbouring Niger State.
He said sustained intelligence gathering and digital tracking led operatives to the suspects, who were arrested on July 5 in Suleja, Niger State.
The suspects were identified as Ifeoma Nnamchi, alleged leader of the syndicate; Peter Rasheed Onwunumah; Olanipekun Anuoluwa; Jemimah Monday; Gabriel Nnamchi, 14; and Stanley Nnamchi, 17.
Police recovered the entire ₦8.25 million ransom allegedly paid by the victim’s family, two operational vehicles—a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Camry—a cutlass, seven pairs of AirPods, jewellery suspected to have been stolen from previous victims, five mobile phones and a laptop.
The Commissioner disclosed that investigations revealed that Nnamchi and Anuoluwa had previously been arrested by the Command in 2022 and 2019 respectively for similar offences, but allegedly returned to criminal activities after regaining their freedom.
He added that the syndicate confessed to carrying out multiple “one chance” operations along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road and other parts of the FCT since 2024, extorting about ₦12.8 million from at least five female victims through kidnapping and robbery.
Four Suspected Kidnappers, Arms Supplier Arrested
In a separate operation, the FCT Police Command arrested four suspects linked to kidnapping and the supply of ammunition and illicit drugs to bandits operating around the FCT and neighbouring states.
The suspects—Bello Abdullahi, Shuaibu Iliya, Idris Abubakar and Misbahu Isa—were apprehended during coordinated clearance operations in Kwali, Abaji and Kuje Area Councils, where security operatives dismantled suspected kidnappers’ hideouts in the Nago Forest.
Sanusi said one of the suspects, Misbahu Isa, led operatives to Zuba Motor Park, where officers recovered 42 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed inside his Volkswagen Golf vehicle.
According to the police, investigations identified Isa as an alleged arms dealer responsible for supplying ammunition to kidnappers and bandits operating across Niger, Kaduna and Kogi states.
The Commissioner alleged that the suspect recently supplied more than 20,000 rounds of live ammunition to criminal groups and received ₦3 million for the transaction.
Other exhibits recovered included codeine-based cough syrups, Tramadol tablets and capsules, wraps and fresh leaves suspected to be cannabis, a loaded magazine containing six rounds of live ammunition, ₦170,000 cash, assorted clothing, a mobile phone and other incriminating items.
560 Suspects Nabbed in Crime Hotspot Raids
Sanusi also disclosed that intelligence-led raids conducted across identified criminal black spots in the FCT over the past week resulted in the arrest of 560 suspects.
He said operatives recovered a locally fabricated pistol, a locally made AK-47 rifle, three rounds of 9mm live ammunition and quantities of illicit drugs during the operations.
The Commissioner assured residents that the Command would sustain its offensive against criminal networks and strengthen intelligence-driven policing to improve security across the Federal Capital Territory.
He urged members of the public to continue supporting the police with credible and timely information, stressing that community partnership remains critical to protecting lives and property and eliminating criminal activities within the FCT.
All suspects, he said, remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
