The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has thwarted a planned large-scale attack in the Territory, following a coordinated intelligence-led operation by its Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
The operation was launched in response to recent kidnapping incidents in ACO Community in Gwagwalada and in Bwari, prompting the Commissioner of Police to intensify efforts to track down the syndicate behind the assaults.
According to the Command’s Spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, credible intelligence later revealed that the gang had concluded arrangements to launch another violent operation on or before December 1, 2025, targeting a yet-to-be-identified community where they intended to abduct residents for ransom.
Acting on the information, operatives tracked and arrested one of the suspected masterminds, Sani Mohammed Umar, also known as Boko, around 2:11 p.m. on November 30, 2025. The suspect, described as a wanted kidnapper and armed robbery suspect, was found with a mobile phone believed to have been used to coordinate previous attacks.
Police investigations linked Umar to earlier kidnappings in ACO and Dupa in Gwagwalada, as well as several armed robbery incidents in Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. He reportedly confessed that other members of his gang were waiting for him at Gada Biyu Hills in Kwali, where they had gathered to launch their next attack.
Later that night, at about 11:01 p.m., the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by the Officer-in-Charge, advanced into the forest and laid an ambush at the gang’s reported meeting point. The Police said the heavily armed suspects opened fire on sighting the operatives, leading to a fierce 30-minute gun duel. Three of the bandits were killed, while others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
Recovered items include three AK-47 rifles, three magazines and 33 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
A joint operation with troops of the Nigerian Army’s 176 Battalion, Kwali, is ongoing, with teams combing the area and sealing escape routes. Hospitals and clinics in the vicinity have been advised to immediately report anyone presenting with gunshot wounds to security agencies.
The Commissioner of Police commended the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for its professionalism and appreciated residents for providing timely intelligence. He urged the public to remain vigilant and continue to share useful information with security agencies.
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