The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has rescued five kidnapped victims and arrested two suspected kidnappers following a coordinated security operation in the Byazhin area of Abuja.
The operation, led personally by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, was carried out in response to recent kidnapping incidents in the Paze community of Byazhin.
According to a statement issued by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, the rescue mission involved operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Kubwa Area Command, local hunters, and vigilante groups.
The joint security team launched an intensive search and clearance operation on the night of June 9, 2026. During the operation, officers engaged suspected kidnappers in a gun battle, resulting in the neutralization of two suspects and the arrest of two others identified as Icheh Mohammadu and Abubakar Usman.
Police said several members of the criminal gang escaped into nearby hills with gunshot wounds. Security operatives also recovered two AK-47 rifles and magazines from the suspects.
The Command appealed to hospitals, healthcare practitioners, and members of the public to report anyone seeking treatment for gunshot injuries under suspicious circumstances.
According to the police, sustained pressure from the security team forced the kidnappers to abandon five hostages, who were rescued unharmed. The victims were taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and are expected to be reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, security forces have continued search operations in the area and surrounding communities to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal network.
CP Sanusi commended the courage and professionalism of the police operatives, hunters, and vigilante members who participated in the operation, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the FCT.
The Police Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through the nearest police station or the Command’s emergency lines.
