The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested six suspected members of an alleged kidnapping syndicate and recovered ₦8.25 million believed to be ransom paid for the release of a kidnapped victim.
The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, announced the development during a press briefing in Abuja, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime within the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the police commissioner, the operation began after officers received a distress report on June 29 concerning the abduction of a young woman in the Maitama area of Abuja. Detectives from the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit immediately launched an investigation and used intelligence-led tracking to trace the suspects.
Police said the kidnappers demanded ₦20 million from the victim’s family before agreeing to accept ₦8.25 million. Investigators tracked the victim to Kwan-Kwashe Village in neighbouring Niger State, where she was allegedly being held.
Although the victim was released after the ransom was paid on July 3, security operatives continued the investigation, leading to the arrest of six suspects in Suleja, Niger State, on July 5.
The suspects were identified as Ifeoma Nnamchi, who police described as the alleged leader of the gang, alongside Peter Rasheed Onwunumah, Olanipekun Anuoluwa, Jemimah Monday, Gabriel Nnamchi and Stanley Nnamchi. Police added that two of those arrested are children of the alleged gang leader.
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During the operation, officers reportedly recovered the full ₦8.25 million ransom, two fully tinted vehicles believed to have been used by the syndicate, a cutlass, seven pairs of AirPods, jewellery suspected to have been stolen from previous victims, five mobile phones and a laptop.
Investigators also disclosed that two of the suspects had previously been arrested by the FCT Police Command in earlier years over similar allegations but allegedly returned to criminal activities after regaining their freedom.
According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate that the group operated along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road and other parts of the FCT since 2024, allegedly carrying out “one chance” kidnappings and robberies.
The command further claimed that the suspects admitted to several operations and confessed that in their five most recent attacks, they kidnapped and robbed five female victims, collecting a total of ₦12.8 million in ransom.
Police said the suspects remain in custody while investigations continue, adding that they will be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation.
The commissioner also warned motorists against the use of illegally tinted vehicles, stating that such vehicles are frequently exploited by criminal groups to conceal their activities and evade detection.
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