Police kill two kidnappers, arrest one in Abuja

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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has dislodged a six-man kidnapping syndicate operating in Abuja and neighbouring communities, killing two suspects during a gun duel, arresting one, and recovering firearms in a coordinated operation in the Karshi area.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, SP Josephine Adeh, the command said operatives acted on credible intelligence and stormed a suspected kidnapper’s hideout along the border between the FCT and Nasarawa State.

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The police said the operation turned violent when the suspects engaged officers in a gun battle after opening fire on the operatives.

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The statement read in part, “The FCT Police Command, in its sustained efforts to rid the Federal Capital Territory of criminal elements, on 3rd May 2026, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a coordinated operation at a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in the Karshi area bordering the FCT and Nasarawa State.”

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It added, “During the operation, the suspects, upon sighting the Police team, opened fire and engaged operatives in a gun duel. In the ensuing exchange, the gang leader, one Baba Ibrahim, also known as ‘Tsoho,’ and one Isah Shehu were neutralised, while three other gang members escaped with suspected bullet wounds. One member of the gang was arrested during the operation.”

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A search of the hideout, according to the police, led to the recovery of weapons and ammunition.

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The command stated, “A search of the hideout led to the recovery of two (2) AK-47 rifles, one (1) pistol, and seventeen (17) rounds of live ammunition.”

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It said preliminary investigations showed the syndicate was led by Baba Ibrahim alias “Tsoho,” alongside other members identified as Khalid, Dan Geskiya, Mohammadu Mai Tsage, Isah Shehu, and one Dogo.

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The police further linked the group to multiple kidnapping incidents across Gwagwalada, Nyanya, Jikwoyi, and Karshi areas of the FCT, alleging that “at least twelve (12) victims” had been abducted by the gang.

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It also alleged that the syndicate was involved in serious crimes beyond kidnapping.

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The statement read, “The syndicate has also been implicated in heinous acts, including the sexual assault of a female victim and the killing of three (3) victims even after collecting ransom payments totalling over sixty million naira.”

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The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, commended the operatives involved in the raid.

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The statement quoted him as saying, “The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, PhD, FCAI, commends the operatives of the Anti-Violence Crime Unit for their professionalism, bravery, and tactical precision in the operation.”

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He also urged medical facilities to report suspicious cases.

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The command said, “The Command calls on hospitals and medical practitioners within and around the FCT to promptly report any individuals presenting with gunshot wounds or suspicious injuries to the nearest Police station.”

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It added that efforts are ongoing to arrest fleeing members of the syndicate, while the suspect in custody will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

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