The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a six-member kidnapping and "one chance" robbery syndicate, recovered the full ₦8.25 million ransom paid for the release of a kidnapped woman, and apprehended four suspected kidnappers and logistics suppliers to bandits in a series of operations across the FCT and neighbouring Niger State.
Speaking during a press briefing at the FCT Police Command Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police said the command's operatives arrested the suspected "one chance" gang on July 5 after tracking them from the Maitama area of Abuja to Suleja, Niger State.
According to the police, the operation followed the abduction of a young woman on June 29 in Maitama. The kidnappers allegedly demanded ₦20 million but later collected ₦8.25 million before releasing the victim on July 3. Police said digital intelligence enabled operatives to trace the suspects, who had held the victim in Kwan-kwashe Village in Niger State.
The suspects were identified as Ifeoma Nnamchi, alleged gang leader; Peter Rasheed Onwunumah; Olanipekun Anuoluwa; Jemimah Monday; Gabriel Nnamchi, 14; and Stanley Nnamchi, 17, all residents of Niger State.
Police recovered the entire ₦8.25 million ransom, two operational vehicles—a Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry—a cutlass, seven EarPods, jewellery suspected to have been stolen from previous victims, five mobile phones and a laptop.
Investigations revealed that the alleged gang leader, Ifeoma Nnamchi, and Olanipekun Anuoluwa are repeat offenders who had previously been arrested by the FCT Police Command in 2022 and 2019 respectively for similar offences. Police said the syndicate had operated along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road and other parts of the FCT since 2024, admitting to kidnapping and robbing at least five women while collecting a total of ₦12.8 million in ransom.
In a separate operation, the command arrested four suspected kidnappers and suppliers of ammunition and illicit drugs to bandits during clearance operations around Kwali, Abaji and Kuje Area Councils.
The suspects, identified as Bello Abdullahi, Shuaibu Iliya, Idris Abubakar and Misbahu Isa, were arrested after security operatives dismantled criminal hideouts in the Nago Forest, Kuje.
Police said Misbahu Isa led investigators to Zuba Motor Park, where officers recovered 42 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed inside his Volkswagen Golf vehicle.
Investigators alleged that Isa is an arms dealer supplying ammunition to kidnappers and bandits operating across Niger, Kaduna and Kogi states, adding that he recently supplied more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition for ₦3 million.
Other items recovered during the operation included codeine syrups, cannabis, tramadol tablets and capsules, a loaded magazine containing six rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, cash, clothing and mobile phones.
The Commissioner also disclosed that intelligence-led raids on criminal black spots across the FCT over the past week resulted in the arrest of 560 suspects. Recovered exhibits included a locally fabricated pistol, a locally made AK-47 rifle and three rounds of 9mm ammunition.
He assured residents that the command would sustain aggressive operations against criminal elements and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support efforts aimed at protecting lives and property across the Federal Capital Territory.
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