The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Tuesday rescue seven victims of a kidnapping gang killing the ring leader in an operation, it said.
It said in a statement that operatives from the Pegi Division killed a notorious wanted kidnapper, Umar Bappa, aka Maishede Blakie, during the operation, with gang members escaping into the bush.
The Command said in the statement by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, titled ‘FCT police commences special operation to tackle kidnapping, other violent crimes,’ that one AK47 rifle, locally made firearms, ammunition, 15 AK-47 magazines, suspected fake military camouflage, charms, drugs, six mobile phones and N47,000 cash were recovered from the bandits.
The statement explained that the victims were subsequently taken to the hospital for medical attention after which they were reunited with their families.
“Efforts are being intensified to arrest other members of the gang,” Adeh, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said.
The statement further said that the command has commenced investigations into the reported abduction of a doctor and five others in Chikuku village, Kuje area of the FCT.
According to the statement, “Following efforts by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command to ensure no hiding place for criminal elements in the FCT and improve public safety and security, the Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday has launched a special intelligence-led operation to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“The CP noted that these efforts have begun to yield positive results as seven kidnapped victims were rescued along the Pegi axis of the FCT. In the recent breakthrough, the CP stated that the command, acting on intelligence which revealed the activities and hideout of some criminal elements suspected to be kidnappers, drafted personnel of the Command’s Anti-kidnapping unit in a joint operation with the DSS and police operatives from Pegi division to storm the hideout of the suspected kidnappers.”
The FCT, like most parts of the country, has come under intense attacks by kidnappers in recent weeks, with several people being abducted from their homes, neighbourhoods and highways.
