FCT Police Command Reports Major Breakthroughs in Anti-Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, and Vehicle Theft Operations

PRESS BRIEFING BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, FCT COMMAND, CP AHMED MUHAMMED SANUSI, PhD, fcai, ON THE 20TH OF JULY, 2026.

PROTOCOL

Distinguished members of the press,

You are welcome to the FCT Police Command Headquarters. Today, I will be briefing you on a few of our operational successes recorded in our ongoing fight against crime across the Federal Capital Territory.

The achievements I present today underscore the importance of partnership with the public and timely intelligence sharing in enhancing our efforts to keep the Federal Capital Territory safe for all residents and visitors.

1. ARREST OF SUSPECT FOR SUPPLYING LOGISTICS, ILLICIT DRUGS AND OTHER EXHIBITS TO KIDNAPPERS.

Kidnapping gangs do not operate on weapons and ransom alone. Our investigations have revealed that they also rely on a steady supply of illicit drugs and logistics to sustain their criminal activities. In a follow up investigation into the kidnapping incident that occurred at Yellow House, Mpape area of the FCT, on 8th July, 2026, operatives of the FCT Police Command Anti-Kidnapping Unit trailed and arrested one Umaru

Danda, a native of Zamfara State at Gadabiu village in Niger State on the 10th of July, 2026.

During the course of investigations, the suspect was identified as a major supplier of hard drugs, logistics, and other illicit substances to the kidnappers who attacked Yellow House area in Mpape.

Following his arrest, Umaru Danda led us to three separate hideouts used by the kidnapping gang in Niger state where the following exhibits were recovered:
1. Twenty-five cards of 225 mg of tramadol.
2. Two wraps of white substance suspected to be cocaine.
3. Five hundred (500) milligrams pack of cannabis pills.
4. Dried substance suspected to be cannabis sativa.
5. Thirty cards of 100 mg tramadol.
6. Two bottles containing 500 tablets each of Embazol.
7. Two black bags containing dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa.
8. One (1) digital scale.
9. Two (2) air pods.
10. Two (2) ATM Cards.
11. Two (2) bags.
12. Cash sum of N250,000.
13. One (1) AK-47 rifle.

The suspect and exhibits are in custody and will be charge dto court upon conclusion of investigations.

In a similar investigation, operatives of the FCT Police Command Anti-Kidnapping Unit recorded another breakthrough with the rescue of a kidnap victim in Karshi Area of the FCT.

On the 12th of July, 2026, the Command received a distress call reporting that suspected kidnappers had abducted a victim from Karshi Area of the FCT after firing sporadically to create panic before fleeing the scene with the hostage.

Upon receiving the report, I directed our Anti-Kidnapping Unit to immediately commence rescue operations. Acting swiftly, the team moved into the adjoining Waru hills where there are unconventional paths and routes linking the FCT to Nasarawa State, while simultaneously combing Karshi axis.

The operation paid off on the 16th of July, 2026, at approximately 12:45 AM when the hostage was successfully rescued unharmed and without the payment of ransom. She was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and has since been reunited with her family.

During the rescue operation, the following exhibits were revovered:
1. One (1) painted makrov pistol
2. One (!1) dagger.

3. Military camouflage clothing.
4. Assorted charms.

2. ARREST OF CAR THEFT SUSPECTS WHO SPECIALIZE IN SNATCHING BOLT AND UBER VEHICLES; RECOVERY OF STOLEN EXHIBT.

The FCT Police Command has recorded another breakthrough in its sustained fight against vehicle theft with the arrest of four (4) suspects who specialize in robbing commercial drivers, particularly Bolt and Uber drivers of their vehicles.

On 7th July, 2026, following credible intelligence, operatives of the FCT Police Command Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) trailed and arrested four (4) suspects identified as Ibrahim Ismail, Ahmad Umar, Riskwa Shehu and Umar Abubakar.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects operate by posing as regular passengers, booking commercial vehicles through e-ride hailing platforms before attacking the drivers, dispossessing them of their vehicles and other valuables.

The suspects were arrested with two vehicles; an ash-colored Toyota Rav 4 vehicle with registration number YAB 240 DL and a grey colored Honda Civic Vehicle, with Registration Number ABC 72 JP.

They will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

3. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING (ONE CHANCE) SUSPECTS, RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS.

In the same vein, on the 14th of July 2026, about 10:00 AM, operatives of the FCT Police Command Violent Crime Response Unit while on routine patrol along Life-Camp – Gwarimpa Underpass, sighted a heavily tinted, dark blue Golf Vehicle with registration Number RSH 621 BR. Where acting suspiciously, and on sighting the patrol team they zoomed off, prompting a hot chase by the police officers and forcing the speeding vehicle to a stop. The occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody and were identified as:

1. Orji Chibueze 35yrs
2. Chibuike Odo 33yrs
3. Chibuikem Stanley 36yrs

A search of their vehicle revealed the following exhibits:
1. One (1) wig.
2. One (1) Screwdriver.
3. One (1) pair of scissors.

4. One (1) knife.
5. Dried substance suspected to be a Cannabis strain popularly known as ‘colos’.
6. Three (3) phones.
7. One (1) cap.
8. One (1) rope.

The exhibits and suspects are in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

4. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS; RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS.

Security is a shared responsibility, our mantra remains: ‘if you see something, say something’. I want to reassure residents of the FCT that under my leadership, the FCT Police Command will maintain the highest levels of professionalism, prompt response to distress calls and proactive policing. The FCT will not be a safe haven for criminals.

It is on the strength of information received through the Command’s emergency lines yesterday, the 19th of July 2026 at about 4:50 AM that FCT Police operatives attached to Nyanya Division responded to a distress call reporting a suspected armed robbery operation at Area ‘A’, Nyanya Area of the FCT.

On arriving the scene, the Police team found five (5) armed suspects violently attacking one Mr. Linus after digging a hole through the perimeter of his shop to gain access into his residence.

Upon sighting the Police team, the suspects opened fire on the operatives in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives responded with tactical precision, engaging the suspects and injuring two of them as they fled the scene. The victim was promptly rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

A follow up investigation led the police to a residence at area ‘A’ Block 8, where a trail of bloodstains left by one of the injured suspects led to the arrest of one Abdulraman Ismail, 20 yrs old. A search of the premises resulted in the recovery of the following exhibits:
1. Bloodstained clothes,
2. One toy gun,
3. One digger,
4. Two machetes,
5. One military belt
6. A bag containing an ID card belonging to one Jamilu Abdullahi, a National Identity Card and voter’s card belonging to one Yahaya Jamilu, a counterfeit N1,000 note and jewelry.
7. One torchlight
8. Assorted charms and one MTN SIM card.

In a follow up investigation, the Police team tracked and arrested one Jamilu Yahaya 25yrs old, who was identified as the owner of the black bag and the residence where the first suspect was arrested. He led the Police to the residence of one Junaidu Usman, 30yrs old, a chemist who provided treatment to one of the injured suspects identified as Danlami Abubakar who is currently on the run.

While efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect, they will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Before I conclude, I want to inform you that the command in separate operations, has re covered five (5) vehicles stolen within the FCT across different parts of the country. While some of these vehicles have been processed and released to their rightful owners, we still have some of them over there which are yet to be claimed by their Bonafide owners.

I wish to state that these successes have largely been made possible through the timely information provided by patriotic residents of the FCT.

I therefore urge members of the public to continue to partner with the Police by providing timely information that will assist in safeguarding lives and property across the FCT. The fight against crime cannot be won by one side alone. Security remains a collective responsibility, and together, we can build a safer and more secure Federal Capital Territory.

Thank you.