The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command says it has arrested four suspected members of a kidnapping and banditry network operating around the Paze-Byazhin area bordering the FCT, Kaduna and Niger states.
In a statement on Sunday, SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson of the FCT police command, said the suspects were arrested during a follow-up operation led by CP Ahmed Sanusi in the FCT.
The suspects were identified as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, Hauwa Shafiu and Shamsudeen Mustapha.
According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are members of a coordinated criminal network involved in kidnapping and banditry activities across the FCT and neighbouring states.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that the location served as a convergence point where armed bandits meet with them to coordinate movements and relay information on intended targets and subsequent attack locations.
“They further admitted that the group provides logistical support, including food, medical assistance, illicit drugs, and other supplies to the armed suspects operating in the surrounding areas,” the statement reads.
Adeh said Sanusi led another operation to the location on June 15, adding that the operation resulted in the destruction of makeshift structures and storage facilities allegedly used by the suspects.
“In another operation led by the Commissioner of Police today, 15th June 2026 to the identified location, the criminal hideout was completely dislodged, and makeshift structures as well as storage facilities used by the suspects were destroyed, effectively disrupting their operational base in the area,” she stated.
The police spokesperson said one of the suspects, Hauwa Shafiu, who allegedly served as a logistics supplier and cook for the group, was pregnant at the time of her arrest.
“One of the suspects, Hauwa Shafiu, who functioned as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal network and their captives, was pregnant at the time of arrest and has since delivered a healthy baby while in lawful custody, where she continues to receive adequate medical care alongside the newborn,” she said.
Adeh said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the network, stressing that efforts are being intensified to dismantle the wider criminal structure operating within the region.
