The Traffic

Police Arrest Two Kidnap Kingpins, Recover N7.4m, Rifles in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnap kingpins and recovered over N7.4 million cash, arms, and ammunition during a joint operation with the Nasarawa State Police Command.

The suspects, identified as Masud Abdullahi of Karu, Nasarawa State—alleged gang leader—and Muhammad Tahir of Jos, Plateau State, were nabbed after a coordinated counter-kidnapping operation.

Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said in a statement on Friday that the operation followed a distress report on August 16, 2025, around 12:05 a.m., when gunmen invaded an estate in Karu, Abuja, and abducted a resident, Henry Chichi.

“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 August 17 at about 9:05 p.m.,” Adeh said.

A follow-up operation led to the interception of the gang along the Guraku axis of the Nasarawa–FCT highway after their operational vehicle, a red Opel Vectra (registration number BLD 566 AT), lost control. While some members escaped, Abdullahi and Tahir were captured.

Further investigations led operatives to the gang’s hideout in Karshi Forest, Nasarawa State, where another suspect, 22-year-old Kabiru Jibril, was arrested.

Items recovered from the hideout include:

₦7.4 million cash

Three AK-47 rifles with magazines

One G3 rifle with magazine

16 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition

One Tecno handset

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, commended the operatives for their professionalism and assured that a manhunt was ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members. 

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna