Midnight gun battle rocks Abuja, as Police foil kidnap attempt after 30-minute shootout 

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Residents of Byazhin in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were thrown into panic in the early hours of Friday as heavily armed kidnappers engaged police operatives in a fierce gun duel lasting more than 30 minutes during a foiled abduction attempt.

The dramatic exchange of gunfire erupted around 12:34 a.m. near the Redeemed Church area of Byazhin, close to Paze Hills, after operatives of the FCT Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit swooped on the area following intelligence reports about the presence of suspected kidnappers.

The armed gang had allegedly targeted the residence of a man identified simply as Samson and his wife and were reportedly attempting to force their way into the building when police operatives arrived at the scene.

According to the FCT Police Command, the suspects immediately opened fire upon sighting the security team, triggering a prolonged gun battle.

Police operatives responded with what authorities described as a decisive counteroffensive, forcing the attackers to abandon their mission and flee into nearby bushes with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.

The operation successfully thwarted the planned abduction and ensured the safety of the intended victims.

Items recovered from the scene included an AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine and seven rounds of live ammunition believed to have been abandoned by the fleeing suspects.

The rescued couple was evacuated from the area and taken to the General Hospital, Gwarinpa, where they received treatment for trauma-related distress before being placed under protective custody.

Confirming the operation, the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command, SP Josephine Adeh, said the swift intervention of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit prevented what could have become another high-profile kidnapping incident within the nation’s capital.

“The armed suspects were attempting to forcefully gain entry into a house with the intention of abducting the occupants. Upon sighting the police team, the suspects opened fire, prompting a decisive response from the police team,” she said.

She added that “a fierce gun battle ensued for over thirty minutes, during which the police operatives successfully repelled the attackers and foiled the kidnapping attempt.”

FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, commended the operatives for their bravery and professionalism during the operation.

He also reassured residents of the command’s determination to sustain the fight against violent crime and directed enhanced surveillance patrols in the area to prevent any further security breaches.

The latest incident underscores growing concerns over kidnapping activities around the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, even as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating within and around Abuja.

Meanwhile, police authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely intelligence capable of assisting security agencies in combating crime across the territory.