Expectant mother detained in Abuja for preparing meals for abducted group's captors

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has apprehended five individuals connected to a kidnapping and banditry ring operating on the outskirts of Abuja, including a heavily pregnant woman who played a crucial role as a cook and logistics supplier for the gang and their hostages.

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This woman, identified as Hauwa Shafiu, was expecting a child at the time of her arrest, yet she continued to provide essential supplies to the gang and their captives, according to the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi.

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Sanusi revealed that the arrests were made following a clearance operation in the Byazin area of the FCT on June 11, 2026, which resulted in the apprehension of some bandits, the neutralization of others, and the rescue of victims.

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As part of a follow-up operation, the police stormed a suspected hideout of bandits and kidnappers in the same area, leading to the arrest of several suspects, including Shafiu, who was heavily pregnant and served as a logistics supplier and cook for the gang and their hostages.

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Despite her pregnancy, Shafiu's involvement in the criminal activities did not cease, and she was taken into custody, where she subsequently gave birth under medical supervision, according to the commissioner.

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The commissioner reported that both Shafiu and her baby are in good health, and she is currently being held at the police clinic, where her medical needs are being attended to.

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Other suspects apprehended include Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, and Shamsudeen Mustapha, and preliminary investigations indicate that they are part of a larger network involved in kidnapping and banditry within and around the FCT.

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The suspects had strategically integrated themselves into a local community approximately one kilometre from the FCT boundary, enabling them to gather intelligence and coordinate attacks on targeted individuals and locations, Sanusi explained.

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The police recovered various exhibits from the suspects, including four motorcycles, 31 pieces of 500mg tramadol tablets, 10 pieces of 50mg tramadol tablets, five phones, one POS machine, cooking utensils, and N320,000 cash.

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The N320,000 cash was reportedly part of the proceeds from a recent kidnapping ransom, with one of the suspects confessing that it was his share of a N7 million ransom paid to the kidnappers, according to the commissioner.

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Additionally, one of the suspects admitted to dispatching a motorcycle to aid two fleeing bandits escape during the June 11 operation, confirming that the two individuals who evaded arrest that day had received assistance from within the network.

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Mustapha was identified as an active drug supplier to the bandit network, and the commissioner announced that the command, in collaboration with the FCT Administration, would demolish the identified hideouts of the suspects.

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The command has arranged to demolish the houses of the suspects in collaboration with the FCT administration, and any additional houses identified as hideouts will be targeted for demolition, Sanusi stated.

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The commissioner also declared that several bandits are now wanted, with their photographs obtained, and warned that the command is prepared for confrontation, saying "As they are looking for us, we are equally looking for them".