Police operatives
Five kidnapped victims have been rescued by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command during a security operation in the Byazhin area of Abuja.
The rescue operation was carried out by a joint security team led by the Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Sanusi, following recent kidnapping incidents in the Paze community.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
SP Adeh said the operation involved personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team, the Kubwa Area Command, local hunters and vigilante groups.
She said the team launched coordinated search-and-rescue missions across the Paze and Byazhin axis, where they encountered suspected kidnappers in a gun battle.
During the operation, two suspected kidnappers were killed, while two others were arrested.
Police spokesperson identified the arrested suspects as Icheh Mohammadu and Abubakar Usman.
She added that the security operatives also recovered two AK-47 rifles and magazines from the suspects.
SP Adeh said the sustained pressure from security forces forced the kidnappers to abandon five captives, who were rescued unharmed.
She noted that the victims were taken to a medical facility for evaluation before being reunited with their families.
The police image maker said search operations are continuing in nearby communities to arrest fleeing gang members and dismantle the kidnapping network, while urging residents and healthcare workers to report anyone seeking treatment for gunshot wounds or displaying suspicious injuries.
