The police has arrested 16 notorious suspected kidnappers terrorising the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The arrest was made through the collaborative efforts with the Department of Force Intelligence – Intelligence Response Team (DFI-IRT), the FCT Command Anti-Violent Crimes Section, Anti-kidnapping Section and other State Commands.
The squad recovered significant arsenal of arms and ammunition including a general purpose machine gun (GPMG).
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued Friday said amongst the suspects paraded on Saturday were the three Bwari-based kidnappers.
They are: Idris Ishaku, 27 years; Bala Umar, 27 years, and Dahiru Salisu, 27 years, who have been responsible for series of armed robbery cases and kidnappings in the Bwari Local Government Area and other parts of Abuja.
Adejobi added: “Similarly, the combined team of operatives have arrested thirteen 13 suspects for various other crimes.
“Amongst the achievements recorded is the foiling of another kidnap plot through technical intelligence resulting in the arrest of the above-named Bwari-based kidnappers, and weapons recovered from them.
“In a proactive move, following a report on the abduction of a victim from his house along with his Hilux Van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL Gray colour by four armed men who disguised in a white Mercedez Benz 230 car, Police Operatives in an intelligence propelled investigation discovered that the victim was being taken to Kano State, but was dispossessed of his ATM cards at Kaduna while the sum of N500,000 was transferred from his account.
“The suspects however ran out of luck as they were intercepted by Police operatives at a filling station in Kaduna where three of them escaped, while one by the name Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael was arrested, the victim rescued unhurt, and the said Hilux Van recovered.”
Adejobi added that It was discovered that Michael and his accomplices had earlier been arrested sometime in November 2023 and charged for similar offences, at the High Court, Kwali, Abuja, but went back to committing even worse crimes while on court bail.
Also, he noted that operatives of the DFI-IRT office intercepted one Everest Magaji, a gunrunner, during negotiation with some notorious bandits who are currently at large, for the purchase and supply of illicit firearms and ammunition.
He said 11 Pistols, and two 2 Pump Action Guns were recovered from the suspect.