21st October, 2024
By Monday Ijeh
The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced the successful arrest of nine suspects and the neutralisation of 10 others during operations targeting kidnappers’ hideouts in neighbouring states.
Commissioner of Police (CP) for the FCT, Olatunji Disu, at a news conference on Monday provided details of the operations led by the command’s anti-kidnapping unit.
The raids were executed in the Kweri forest of Kaduna State and the Gauraka forest in Niger State.
Disu reported that six of the arrested suspects were linked to culpable homicide and various armed robbery incidents affecting the Dei-dei, Bwari, and Dawaki communities within the FCT, saying the individuals were part of a kidnapping and banditry gang led by a suspect who was neutralised during the operations.
“During our assault on the kidnappers’ strongholds in Kweri and Gauraka forests, our forces engaged in an intense gunfight, resulting in the gang leader and eight accomplices being neutralised,” Disu stated.
He also confirmed that two police operatives sustained serious injuries during the operations and were currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
Intelligence reports indicated that kidnap victims were often held in multiple locations, including Gidan Dogo forest in Kaduna, Gauraka forest in Niger, and Kweri and Kachia forests in Kaduna State.
The operation yielded significant recoveries, including three AK-47 rifles, 100 rounds of live 7.62 ammunition, and ten AK-47 magazines. Disu noted that efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional members of the gang.
Furthermore, the police commissioner revealed that three additional wanted suspects were arrested during a separate clearance operation linked to kidnapping, banditry, and culpable homicide.
He said the suspects were responsible for armed robbery and kidnapping attacks on ECWA pastors’ quarters in Dnapoyi village in Bwari Area Council, as well as in Mpape and Daupe villages.
According to him, from this operation, authorities recovered two AK-47 rifles, 85 rounds of live 7.62 ammunition, three AK-47 magazines, and one locally made firearm.
