Police operatives from the Federal Capital Territory command have arrested a 20-year-old kidnap kingpin, Buhari Muhammad, and five others in a hotel in Abuja.
The suspects, who were arrested following intelligence on their activities were said to have kidnapped one Joshua Eze.
Eze who was abducted on January 27 was subsequently rescued unhurt by operatives of the command on January 28, 2024.
Announcing the arrest of the suspects in a statement on Monday, the FCT command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, stated that one AK-47 and N350,000 were recovered from the suspects.
The statement read, “Police operatives of the FCT Police Command attached to Anti-Kidnapping Unit in the continued fight against criminality in FCT, on 02/02/2024 acting on credible intelligence arrested one Buhari Muhammad ‘m’ 20 yrs, a wanted kidnap kingpin; Muhammad Sabiu ‘m’ 20 yrs, Isah Abdullahi ‘m’, Hamzat Musa ‘m’ 21 yrs, Fatima Abdullahi ‘f’ 22yrs and Zuliat Yusuf ‘f’ 23 yrs in a hotel in Bassa Village in FCT.
“The notorious kidnap syndicate was responsible for the abduction of one Joshua Eze, the husband to Blessing Eze who suffered a bullet injury in the process of her husband’s abduction on 27/01/2024 and was subsequently rescued unhurt by Police operatives of the Command on 28/01/2024.
“One AK47 rifle, 10 mobile phones, cash sum of three hundred and forty-five thousand naira and some other valuables were recovered from the suspects who have since confessed to the crime and other kidnapping incidents in the Territory.”
Adeh urged residents to give timely updates on suspicious activities in their environments.
She said, “While the investigation is still ongoing, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh wishes to assure members of the public of his commitment to rid FCT of criminality in all its manifestations.
“He equally urges residents to report suspicious activities.”
Since the commencement of the year, the Federal Capital Territory has experienced a surge in kidnapping incidents.
These incidents have caused apprehension among residents of the territory.
On February 1, 2024, the latest abduction in the nation’s capital took place in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, involving two teenage sisters.
Credit: Punch