Men of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested three bandits for Kidnapping and engaging in other forms of criminality within the Abuja jurisdiction.
The bandits who had turned the Abuja-Lokoja highway to a den of kidnappers and bandits had their camp busted by the police. However, some of the police operatives that carried out the raid lost their lives in the operation.
Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) rifle, 13 magazines and other assorted arms were recovered from the bandits. Police said the RPG rifle has a rate of fire of 4-6 rounds per minute at a range of 5 meters and has a maximum sighting range of 900 meters.
Confirming the incident, FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji said:
“On May 12, 2022 at around 10:00pm, in a streak of operations targeted at fishing out, sweeping, and dislodging bandits, Kidnappers, and miscreants from their hideouts, at the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) the Command’s’ Anti-kidnapping unit in a concerted effort with the local hunters, Destiny hunters, and Vigilantes, Stormed a kidnappers camp in Zago Forest, Niger State bothering FCT via Adagba Village Abuja.
“Upon sighting the gallant approach of the combined team, the miscreants engaged the Team in a gun duel. Being overpowered, two suspected Bandits namely Rabiu Umar (a.k.aMallam) an 18 year-old, and AbdulmuniHaruna (a.k.a Alibaba) a 20 years old, were arrested, while many escaped the camp with bullet wounds.
“The Team dislodged the camp, rescued one Usman Isah a 23 years old male of Lapaivillage Niger State who had been in captivity for 20 days and recovered three AK 47 Riffles with breeches No. 5662, 088425-89, and NK 6172 with Seven (7) Magazines containing eighteen (18) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and One GPMG with 101 MG rounds.
“The Operation followed intelligence gathered from a Sting Operation earlier executed on March 8, 2022 at about 07:00pm where the combined Team stormed the forest in pursuit of Bandits sighted along Magaji Forest bordering Abuja/Niger State.
“The team defeated the miscreants in a gun duel using a superior gunfire leading to the arrest of one Ibrahim Usman (a.k.aBabuba) a 27 years old, of the kwali Area council of the FCT, while others escaped with various degrees of gun wounds.
“The Team continued their onward crusade, combing the forests aggressively.
“On May 13, 2022, at about 8:00pm the team Stormed a Bandit camp at Mayaki forest via Adagba Village, Yaba district Abaji Area Council of the FCT, overpowering the Bandits with superior firepower, leading to the recovery of One AK49 Riffle with breach no: 165151 with 8 magazines and 12 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and one locally made Pistol.”
“The Operation recorded in total the arrest of three (3) suspects, the rescue of one survivor, the recovery of one (1) Ak49 Riffle, three (3) AK47 Riffles, Thirteen (13) Magazine, 30 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one (1) GPMG and 101 round of live MG ammunition.
“All suspects arrested in this streak of operations admitted to be Bandits/ Kidnappers.
“Effort is ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects and upon the conclusion of the investigation, suspects will be charged to court.”