The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced the arrest of seven suspects linked to kidnapping, homicide, armed robbery, and the supply of ammunition to terrorists and bandits, following a series of intelligence-led operations across the territory and neighbouring states.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said the successes were achieved through coordinated operations, digital forensic investigations, and actionable intelligence.
Suspected Kidnappers Arrested with AK-47 Rifle
The police chief disclosed that investigations into viral social media videos showing armed men dressed in military camouflage brandishing AK-47 rifles led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Umar Babangida, 25, Adamu Yeti, 22, and Yahaya Idris, 24.
According to him, operatives of the FCT Police Command’s VCRU Sector 5 and personnel from Zuba Division arrested the suspects at their hideout in Runji Village, Zuba, during a raid conducted on May 25, 2026.
Sanusi said investigations revealed that the suspects had previously possessed AK-47 rifles allegedly supplied by their gang leader, identified as “Esco,” who remains at large.
Items recovered from the suspects included an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition, eight mobile phones, two jackknives, power banks, and several incriminating videos and photographs showing the suspects armed and dressed in military camouflage.
The suspects are currently in custody while efforts continue to arrest other members of the gang and recover additional weapons.
Police Uncover Murder Disguised as Kidnapping
The Commissioner also revealed that operatives attached to Apo Division arrested two suspects in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Emmanuel Chukwuemeka.
The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Acha Leku, 32, a Cameroonian national, and his girlfriend, Kazan Vincent, were apprehended in Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State following a joint operation involving the Benue State Police Command.
Investigations showed that Leku allegedly lured the victim to a mountainous area in Lokogoma, Abuja, where he murdered him over a dispute arising from proceeds of a fraudulent scheme they allegedly carried out together.
The suspect reportedly used the victim’s mobile phone to demand a ransom of N5 million from family members in an attempt to portray the murder as a kidnapping case.
Police recovered two mobile phones from the suspect, including that of the deceased. The decomposing remains of the victim were later traced to the crime scene and deposited at Sahad Hospital, Apo, for autopsy.
Wanted Ammunition Suppliers to Terrorists Arrested
In another breakthrough, the FCT Police Command arrested Yau Sule, a suspected logistics and ammunition supplier to terrorists, bandits, and kidnapping gangs operating across the North-Central region.
Sanusi said the suspect, who had been on the Command’s wanted list since 2023, was arrested on June 2 while travelling along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.
Recovered from him were 81 rounds of 7.62mm live AK-47 ammunition and 100 rounds of 7.62mm belted ammunition for a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
Further investigations led to the arrest of his sister, Maria Sule, who is married to a wanted bandit leader identified as Buhari Shuaibu.
According to the police, preliminary findings indicate that both suspects are part of a network responsible for supplying ammunition and logistics to criminal groups operating in Kaduna, Niger State, and border communities within the FCT.
One-Chance Suspects Nabbed After Victim’s Distress Call
The Command also recorded success in its campaign against one-chance robbery syndicates with the arrest of two suspects following a robbery incident along the Giri-Lugbe Road.
Police operatives on routine patrol reportedly responded after a female victim raised an alarm, claiming she had been robbed and abandoned by suspected one-chance operators.
A swift chase led to the interception of a blue Volkswagen Golf vehicle with registration number SKK 567 AG and the arrest of two suspects, Muhammed Muhammed, 22, and Muhammed Saidu, 20.
Items recovered from the vehicle included the victim’s laptop, iPhone, laptop charger, two knives, and a pair of scissors.
Total Recoveries
The police recovered a cache of exhibits from the various operations, including:
- One AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition;
- Eleven mobile phones;
- Two jackknives;
- One laptop charger;
- Power banks;
- Incriminating videos and photographs;
- Eighty-one rounds of 7.62mm live AK-47 ammunition; and
- One hundred rounds of 7.62mm belted ammunition for a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
CP Sanusi assured residents of the FCT of the Command’s commitment to proactive policing and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
He emphasized that collaboration between residents and law enforcement remains critical to sustaining security gains and ensuring the safety of lives and property in the nation’s capital.