5 arrested as police, kidnappers exchange fire

Five suspected kidnappers have been arrested during a gun duel between operatives of the FCT Police Command and kidnappers in a forest bothering the Gwagwa and Dei-Dei areas of Abuja.

Benneth Igweh, the FCT police commissioner, who disclosed this while parading the suspects on Thursday, said they were arrested during a two-day operation.

CP Igweh gave the names of the arrested suspects as Umar Abdullahi, aka Auta; Likita Abubakar; Salisu Sani; Sabiu Mohammed and Aliyu Suleiman, saying they were arrested in connection with a kidnapping in Gwagwa on June 12, 2024.

He further said the suspects collected a ransom of N12m from the victims’ families, but that the kidnappers killed two of the victims.

He further said, “Aside that, the arrested suspects were also responsible for several kidnappings and other heinous acts in some suburbs of Abuja. Uur men were able to recover four AK-47 rifles from them.”

He called on residents to continue to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines in reporting suspicious activities: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938 and 07057337653.