Mohammed Shosanya
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Olatunji Disu has said, operatives of the Command have arrested nine deadly kidnappers who have kidnapped and killed several victims.
He gave the names of the suspects as Abdulrahman Giwa, Baba Hassan, Mohammed Dahiru, Abubakar Bature Alias Dayi, Abubakar Kadiri Alias Dare and Kabiru Ibrahim M.
All the suspects,he said are members of a kidnapping and banditry gang led by one Mallam (surname unknown) now deceased.
CP Disu,who paraded the suspects on
Monday,at the Command Headquarters, Abuja,reiterated his commitment to zero-tolerance on all forms of crime and criminality within the territory.
He stated that the Command’s resolve to have “zero tolerance” for all forms of crime and criminality is to ensure that the city is safe and secured for all its inhabitants.
He noted that in pursuance of the FCT Command’s mantra of zero tolerance to all forms of crimes, Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the FCT Police Command conducted clearance operations in Kidnappers’ dens deep in the Forests of Kweri in Kaduna State and Gauraka Forest in Niger State.
“Operatives arrested the following suspects responsible for various armed robbery and kidnapping attacks on Dei-dei, Bwari and Dawaki communities in the FCT, Daupe, Kau and Sunape villages.”
“During the Operations involving the assault of the strongholds of the kidnappers in Kweri and Gauraka Forests, Mallam and eight other suspects were neutralized after an intense exchange of gunfire.
“At the same time, two Operatives of the FCT Command sustained serious injuries and are both undergoing treatment in the hospital. Intelligence revealed that the gang kept their hostages in various locations in Gidan Dogo forest in Kaduna, Gauraka forest in Niger, Kweri forest and Kachia forest in Kaduna.
“The extent of the arrested individual’s involvement in Crimes which had caused horror and pain to residents of the FCT, Kaduna and Niger are as follows.”
In their various confessional statements, all the suspects disclosed their roles in the gang.
Abdulrahman Giwa, m 25 said he is from Karuwan Majin village in Kaduna State and was arrested in the gang’s hideout at Kweri forest in Kaduna state.
Since joining Mallam’s gang in 2022, he has actively participated in numerous kidnapping operations, including but not limited to an attack on Jibi village in Niger State on 21st July 2024, where a number of victims were kidnapped and ransom was collected:
“In Bwari Community; Ahmed Enahoro ‘m’ 52 years, Faith Enahoro ‘f’ 18 years and Ahmed Mahmoud ‘m’ 41 years were kidnapped, and a ransom was paid.
“In Daupe Village, Tafa LGA of Niger State on 1st July 2024; Santyo Comfort ‘f’ 55 years, Happiness Santyo ‘f’ 16 years, Felix Santyo ‘m’ 14 years and Julius Oyanga ‘m’ were all kidnapped and a total of about 80million naira was paid as ransom. One of his victims, Comfort Oyanga ‘f’ was killed in cold blood in front of her children.
“The Kidnapping of over twenty (20) persons in Dawaki on 19th May 2024.”
Baba Hassan ‘m’ 27yrs from Gayam village in Kaduna State. He was arrested in the gangs’ hideout at Kweri forest in Kaduna state.
He joined banditry in 2022 and has worked with several notorious kingpins such as Dan Ummar (deceased) and Abdulrahman Giwa among others. He was also involved in various kidnapping operations which include but not limited to the “Kidnapping of Funsho Egerigbibe f, on 13th September 2023 and released after a ransom payment.
He added:”Kidnapping of Mr Gwaza Aondover m on 31st January 2024 at Pamgara and subsequently released after a ransom payment.”
Mohammed Dahiru (aka K.B.) m 28: from Maraban-Jos in Kaduna State was arrested in Gauraka Forest. He joined the gang of bandits and kidnappers in 2023 and participated in two kidnapping operations at Kweri Village in Kaduna State, bordering the FCT.
“He is also the key informant of his gang, giving information that led to attacks at Dawaki, Dei-Dei and Daupe village in Niger state.”
Abubakar Bature alias Danji ‘m’ 27yrs from Kagarko LGA in Kaduna State joined the gang of kidnappers in 2023 and was arrested in Gauraka Forest.
He has partook in several kidnapping operations in various communities, including Ushafa community, Sunape village and Kau village. He claimed to have received N600,000 from various ransoms collected from victims.
Abubakar Kadiri alias Dare m 35 served as a logistics supplier (providing medication, recharge cards, and food) for the aforementioned suspects for about a year.
“He was arrested at Gidan Abe in Kaduna state. He admitted to receiving one hundred thousand naira (100,000) and fifty thousand naira (50,000) on two different occasions for his services.
Meanwhile,Kabiru Ibrahim m 27 from Danja Village in Katsina State was arrested at Gidan Abe in Kaduna state.
He joined banditry kidnapping through a gang leader named Dogo Bammi (currently on the run). He has participated in numerous kidnapping operations including “Kachia village in Kaduna State, where 16 persons were kidnapped in 2023 Jere in Kaduna State, where 3 persons were kidnapped. Igu in Bwari FCT, where 10 persons were kidnapped.”
He claimed to have received over N100,000 as his share from ransoms collected by the gang.
“Upon their arrest, intelligence reports reveal that they were planning on attacking Daupe village in Niger state, Gidan Abe in Kaduna state, Ushafa in Bwari FCT and Sunape village where they were targeting a Cattle dealer and his family.”
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include three AK 47 rifles, 100 rounds of live 7.62 ammunitin, 10 AK 47 magazines.
CP Disu however,stressed that “Efforts are currently ongoing to arrest the remaining gang members and recover more arms and ammunition.
The CP also revealed that, “The FCT Police command continues to take the fight to bandits and kidnappers and in clearance operations conducted by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the FCT Police Command, the following suspects, responsible for various armed robbery and kidnapping attacks on ECWA pastors quarters in Dnapoyi village in Bwari Area council of the FCT, Mpape village, Daupe village, etc were arrested.
He gave their names as Hussaini Ori aka Mugu, Ya’u Adamu and Yminu Adam
All the suspects,he said are members of the kidnapping and banditry gang led by one Gwan Umaru, who was based in Kweri Forest of Kaduna state (now deceased).
In their confessional statements Hussani Ori aka Mugu ‘m’ 27 from Gwagwalada in FCT said, since joining the Gwan Umaru gang, he had actively participated in numerous kidnapping operations, including but not limited to, “Attack on ECWA pastors’ quarters in Dnapoyi village, Bwari area Council, where they kidnapped one pastor Enoch Maisamari on 03/05/2024.
“Collectively, they also Kidnapped one Dimas Maisamari in Mpape, and all suspects were taken to Kaduna Forest where a total of N1,500,000 were collected.
“They returned to the above-named address on 19 August 2024 and kidnapped one Naomi Barnabas ‘f’ and collected a ranson of N450,000 after holding her for three days.
“In Daupe Village, Tafa LGA of Niger State on 1st July 2024; Santyo Comfort ‘f’ 55 years, Happiness Santyo ‘f’ 16 years, Felix Santyo ‘m’ 14 years and Julius Oyanga ‘m’ were all kidnapped and a total of about 80million naira was paid as ransom. Comfort Oyanga ‘f’ was killed in cold blood in front of her children.
“Ya’u Adamu ‘m’ 28 from Mpape village in FCT, a neighbour to Pastor Enoch Maisamari gave the information to his gang members which led to the kidnap of the Pastor in Dnapoyi village on 03/05/2025. He has also participated in several kidnap operations of his gang.
While Aminu Adamu ‘m’24 from Gidan waya village in Kaduna state was an active member of his gang and has participated in all kidnappingoperations carried out.”
According to CP Disu, “Exhibits recovered so far include two AK 47 rifles 85 rounds of live 7.62 ammunition, three AK 47 magazines, and ne locally-made gun.Efforts are still ongoing to arrest more gang members and for the possible recovery of more arms and ammunition.”
The CP,however,assured that, the Command would continue to intensify efforts against crime.
“I want to assure the residents of the FCT that we remain resolute in our duty to protect lives and property. The suspects paraded today will be charged to court after thorough investigations, and we will ensure that justice is served.
“Let me once again thank the officers and men of the FCT Command for their tireless dedication and bravery. We will not relent until the FCT is completely safe and free from all forms of criminal activities.”
