The Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested two suspected kidnap kingpins, Masud Abdullahi of Karu, Nasarawa State, identified as the gang leader, and Muhammad Tahir of Jos, Plateau State.
The command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, disclosed in a statement on Friday that the arrests followed a counter-kidnapping operation carried out in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Police Command.
She explained that the operation began after a report was received on August 16, 2025, at about 12:05 a.m. that a syndicate had invaded an estate in Karu, Abuja, and abducted a resident identified as Henry Chichi.
Adeh said, “Upon receiving the report, the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit immediately swung into action, mounting intense pressure on the kidnappers, which eventually led to the safe release of the victim on 17th August 2025 at about 9:05 p.m.
“In a follow-up operation, in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Police Command, the assailants were tracked and intercepted along the Guraku axis of the Nasarawa – FCT Highway after their operational vehicle, a red Opel Vectra with registration number BLD 566 AT, lost control.”
The spokesperson said while some of the gang members escaped, the gang leader, Masud Abdullahi, and his associate, Muhammad Tahir, were arrested during the operation.
According to her, the suspects later led operatives to their hideout in Karshi Forest, Nasarawa State, where another gang member, 22-year-old Kabiru Jibril, was arrested.
Adeh said, “Exhibits recovered from the hideout include: N7.4 million cash, three AK-47 rifles with magazines, one G3 rifle with magazine, sixteen rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and one Tecno handset.”
Meanwhile, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, commended the professionalism of the operatives and assured that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
