The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Sanusi, on Monday, paraded kidnapping suspects, logistics suppliers, and a man who allegedly held his sister in chains for over two years.

Briefing journalists at the FCT Police Command in Abuja, the Commissioner said the successes were achieved through coordinated intelligence gathering and cooperation from residents of the FCT.

Sanusi said: “The FCT Police Command has recorded another breakthrough in its sustained crackdown on kidnapping and banditry across the Federal Capital Territory.

“Following a recent anti-kidnapping and rescue operation I led on June 9, 2026, in the Paze–Byazhin area of the FCT, a follow-up operation was conducted on June 11, 2026, where we stormed a suspected banditry and kidnapping hideout within the same area and arrested four suspects identified as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, Hauwa Shafiu, and Shamsudeen Mustapha.”

He said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects were part of a criminal network involved in kidnapping and banditry activities within and around the FCT.

According to him, the group had infiltrated local communities, enabling them to gather intelligence and coordinate repeated attacks on targeted persons and locations.

“One of the suspects, Hauwa Shafiu, who operates as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal gang and their hostages, was heavily pregnant at the time of arrest and subsequently delivered a healthy baby while in Police custody. Adequate medical attention was provided to both mother and child,” he added.

Sanusi said exhibits recovered from the suspects included four motorcycles, tramadol tablets, ₦320,000 cash, five phones, a POS machine, and cooking utensils.

He further disclosed that on June 12, 2026, the Command received a distress report that a 36-year-old woman, Ms Grace Aniekuoku, an indigene of Anambra State, was held captive under chains and locked in a room by her brother, Mr Chinedu Aniekuoku, for over one year and four months.

He said police officers from Katampe Division were deployed to the scene, where the suspect resisted arrest but was eventually overpowered.
“The victim was discovered in chains, in an extremely emaciated condition and in her own waste under very poor sanitary conditions,” he said.

The police boss added that the victim was rescued and rushed to hospital, while the suspect was arrested and remains in custody.

He noted that investigations revealed the suspect had allegedly abducted his sister’s son two years ago, and kept her confined to prevent her from asking questions about the child’s whereabouts. Sanusi said efforts were ongoing to rescue the missing child, while the suspect would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

He commended residents of the FCT for providing timely information, describing community cooperation as critical to the success of police operations.

He urged the public to continue supporting security agencies, stressing that the fight against crime remains a collective responsibility.