ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested five suspects linked to a kidnapping and banditry network operating on the outskirts of Abuja, including a heavily pregnant woman who allegedly served as a cook and logistics supplier for the criminal gang and their hostages.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this while parading the suspects before journalists in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, the arrests followed a clearance operation carried out in the Byazin area of the FCT on June 11, 2026, during which some bandits were arrested, others were neutralised, and kidnapped victims were rescued.
Sanusi identified the pregnant suspect as Hauwa Shafiu, saying she continued to provide food and logistics support to the gang despite her condition.
“As a follow-up to that operation, upon further engagements, we stormed a suspected bandits’ and kidnappers’ hideout within the same area and arrested some suspects.
“One of the suspects, Shafiu, operates as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal gang and their hostages. She was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest, even though her pregnancy did not deter her from continuously committing this heinous crime,” the commissioner said.
Sanusi said that following her arrest, he directed that she be taken to a hospital, where she later gave birth.
“The baby is sound and safe. She too is sound. We have provided every medical need while we watch her recuperate,” he said, adding that she remains at the police clinic.
Other suspects arrested in connection with the case were identified as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa and Shamsudeen Mustapha.
The police commissioner said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects belonged to a criminal network involved in kidnapping and banditry within and around the FCT.
“The group had infiltrated and integrated into a local community just about one kilometre away from the FCT itself, enabling them to gather intelligence and coordinate repeated attacks on targeted persons and locations,” he said.
Sanusi disclosed that exhibits recovered from the suspects included four motorcycles, 31 pieces of 500mg tramadol tablets, 10 pieces of 50mg tramadol tablets, five mobile phones, one Point of Sale machine, cooking utensils and ₦320,000 in cash.
“According to the confession of one of the suspects, the ₦320,000 was his share of a ₦7 million ransom paid to the kidnappers,” he revealed.
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