Police kill three ‘kidnappers’ after gun duel in Abuja

Muyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer (PPRO), says three suspected kidnappers, including a kingpin, terrorising some parts of Abuja, have been killed.

Adejobi spoke on Friday during a parade of 17 suspects at the force headquarters.

He said the suspected kidnappers at about 1:40 a.m. today engaged the operatives in a gun battle before they were killed.

“This is another significant stride towards fortifying the security landscape in the federal capital territory (FCT), following the recent launch of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and the Nigeria Police Force under the command of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun,” Adejobi said.

“The police will continue to comb bushes and shanties in border areas between the FCT, Niger, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States.”

Adejobi said a wanted kidnap kingpin, Magamu, also known as Godara, was among those neutralised.

He said the suspected kidnappers have been terrorising the Bwari area council of the FCT as well as communities in Kaduna and Nasarawa states.

The police spokesperson said the 17 suspects paraded were involved in kidnapping, rape, armed robbery, gun running, conspiracy, homicide, and extortion.

Recently, cases of kidnapping have been on the rise among Abuja communities.

On Wednesday, operatives of the FCT police command arrested a suspected kidnapper and rescued an abducted resident.