FCT police nab four suspects for alleged kidnapping, banditry
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command says it has arrested four suspected kidnappers and bandits in the Paze-Byazhin Hills, an area bordering Niger and Kaduna states and the FCT.
This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by Josephine Adeh, the command’s spokesperson, following an anti-kidnapping and rescue operation.
She said the suspects were arrested on June 9, 2026, in the Paze-Byazhin area of the FCT.
“Following a recent anti-kidnapping and rescue operation led by the Commissioner of Police, FCT command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, PhD. FCAI., on the 9th of June 2026 in Paze – Byazhin area of the Federal Capital Territory, the CP led a follow-up tactical operation on 11th June 2026 to an identified hideout used by the suspects around Paze hills bordering Kaduna, Niger, and the FCT,” she said.
The suspects were identified as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, Hauwa Shafiu, and Shamsudeen Mustapha.
She said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were part of a coordinated criminal network involved in kidnapping and banditry activities within the FCT and neighbouring states.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that the location served as a convergence point where armed bandits met with them to coordinate movements and relay information on intended targets and subsequent attack locations.
“They further admitted that the group provides logistical support, including food, medical assistance, illicit drugs, and other supplies to the armed suspects operating in the surrounding areas,” she said.
She added that during another operation conducted on June 15, 2026, at the identified location, the criminal hideout was completely dislodged, while makeshift structures and storage facilities used by the suspects were destroyed, disrupting their operational base.
“One of the suspects, Hauwa Shafiu, who functioned as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal network and their captives, was pregnant at the time of arrest and has since delivered a healthy baby while in lawful custody, where she continues to receive adequate medical care alongside the newborn,” Mrs Adeh said.
She said investigations were ongoing and that efforts had been intensified to identify and apprehend other members of the network and dismantle the wider criminal structure operating within the region.
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