From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested three notorious kidnap suspects long wanted for a series of high-profile abductions and murders within the FCT and its environs, marking a major operational success in its ongoing effort to combat violent crimes.
Police Public Relations Officer Josephine Adeh, who made this known, said, “On the 13th, 17th, and 18th of June 2025, operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey, acting on credible digital reconstructive intelligence, successfully tracked and apprehended the suspects in coordinated operations across Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa States.”
The arrested individuals are:
1. Ya’u Shittu, 27 years old, of Kafanchan LGA, Kaduna State;
2. Sale Usman, 30 years old, from Niger State; and
3. Ibrahim Abdullahi, 28 years old, of Mpape, Abuja.
Adeh said, “These individuals, all on the Command’s wanted list, belong to a ruthless kidnapping syndicate responsible for multiple violent crimes across the Territory.
“Upon interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in several heinous acts, including the kidnapping of four men in the Katampe and Shishipe I communities, as well as the abduction and murder of a pastor in Mpape in 2024. Further investigation also linked them to the kidnapping of three children from Ruga Shishipe in Mpape, during which their father was killed while resisting the attackers.
“The suspects also admitted to the recent abduction of a woman for whom a ransom of ₦10,000,000 (ten million naira) was paid, with each gang member receiving ₦500,000 (five hundred thousand naira).”
It was further uncovered that Ibrahim Abdullahi served as the gang’s arms supplier. He led operatives to the syndicate’s hideout in Bukuru, Nasarawa State, on June 18, 2025. Upon sighting the police team, other gang members opened fire. The officers engaged with superior firepower, during which Abdullahi attempted to flee but was shot, injured, and rearrested. The remaining suspects escaped and are currently being pursued.
Exhibits recovered from the hideout include a long knife and assorted charms.
All arrested suspects are in custody, and efforts are underway to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Ajao S. Adewale, commended the operatives for their bravery and professionalism. He appealed to residents of the FCT to remain vigilant, be security-conscious, and cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies. He emphasised the importance of timely reporting of suspicious movements or activities within communities, stressing that security is a shared responsibility.
To report any suspicious activity, residents are encouraged to contact the Police Command through the following emergency numbers: 08032003913 or 08028940883.
