Two kidnappers neutralized, two arrested as FCT Police rescue 5 hostages in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

I​n a dramatic night-time assault, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, personally led a combined team of elite operatives and local hunters into the rugged terrain of Byazhin to shatter a notorious kidnapping syndicate, rescuing five hostages unharmed.
​The high-stakes operation, which commenced at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, degenerated into a fierce gun duel deep within the Paze and Byazhin communities.
When the dust settled, two suspected kidnappers lay dead, two others were in handcuffs, and several gang members fled bleeding into the nearby hills.
​Following a spike in abductions within the Paze community, CP Sanusi bypassed the comfort of his office to personally command the frontline clearance operation.
​According to a statement released on Wednesday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh,assault force integrated ​the FCT Anti-Kidnapping Unit, NPF Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Kubwa Area Command, local hunters and community vigilante groups.
​It added that upon infiltrating the dense criminal hideout, the security forces were met with heavy gunfire. In the ensuing shootout, tactical operatives successfully neutralized two suspects and arrested two others, identified as Icheh Mohammadu and Abubakar Usman.
It was disclosed that security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles along with fully loaded magazines from the scene.
​It noted that overwhelmed by the superior firepower and tactical coordination of the security team, the remaining bandits abandoned their captives to escape the dragnet.
The five rescued victims were immediately secured by operatives and taken to a nearby medical facility for evaluation before being reunited with their families.
The statement revealed that a massive manhunt is currently underway in the adjoining hills to track down the fleeing suspects, many of whom escaped with severe bullet wounds.
While commending the exceptional bravery and synergy displayed by both the police operatives and the local volunteers, CP Sanusi reaffirmed that the FCT will no longer be a safe haven for violent criminals.
The Command urges residents of the FCT to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or individuals to the nearest police station or via the following official emergency hotlines – 08032003913, and 07057337653.