The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested two notorious kidnap kingpins and recovered firearms alongside ₦7.4 million cash believed to be proceeds of crime.
The suspects identified as Masud Abdullahi, a native of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and leader of the gang, and Muhammad Tahir from Jos, Plateau State, were apprehended in a counter-kidnapping operation following the abduction of an Abuja-based lawyer.
Josephine Adeh, Police spokesperson, disclosed in a statement that the incident began in the early hours of August 16, 2025, when a gang of armed assailants stormed an estate in Karu, Abuja, broke into the residence of Henry Chichi (Barrister), and whisked him away to an unknown location.
According to the statement, the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit immediately launched a rescue operation and sustained pressure on the criminals, which eventually secured the safe release of the victim at about 9:05 p.m. on August 17.
“In a follow-up operation carried out in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Police Command, operatives tracked the gang and intercepted them along the Guraku axis of the Nasarawa–FCT highway.
“Their operational vehicle, a red Opel Vectra with registration number BLD 566 AT, lost control, enabling the police to arrest Abdullahi and Tahir while other gang members fled”, the statement reads.
According to the Command, the arrested suspects later led security operatives to their hideout in Karshi Forest, Nasarawa State, where another member of the syndicate, 22-year-old Kabiru Jibril, was arrested.
“From the forest camp, the police recovered ₦7.4 million in cash, three AK-47 rifles with magazines, a G3 rifle with magazine, sixteen rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and a Tecno handset”, it added.
Ajao Adewale, Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP, commended the courage and professionalism of the operatives, stressing that the Command remains unwavering in its determination to rid the FCT of violent criminals.
He assured residents that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing members of the gang and pledged that the police will continue to dismantle kidnapping syndicates across the territory.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities using the FCT Police emergency lines 08032003913 and 08061581938.