Police arrest ‘members of kidnap syndicate’ in Abuja, rescue victim

The federal capital territory (FCT) police command says it has arrested suspected members of a kidnap syndicate and rescued a victim in Abuja.

Josephine Adeh, spokesperson of the FCT police command, announced the development in a statement on Monday.

Adeh said the suspects were arrested in a hotel following intelligence reports on their activities.

She said Joshua Eze, the rescued victim, was abducted on January 27.

The police spokesperson said one Ak47 rifle, 10 mobile phones and N350,000 were recovered from the suspects.

“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 statement reads.

“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.

“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.”