Police battle kidnappers in Abuja, arrest one

Police operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) arrested a suspected kidnapper following a gunfight in Kubwa, Abuja, early Friday.

A gang of kidnappers had stormed an estate, prompting police intervention. When confronted, the kidnappers opened fire and fled into a nearby swamp.

During the pursuit, officers captured one suspect and recovered a vehicle linked to the gang. Weapons, including an AK-47 rifle with 20 rounds of ammunition and a Beretta pistol with 12 rounds, were seized from the suspect.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, confirmed the arrest, attributing the swift response to a prompt report from a resident.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious activities through the police emergency lines, assuring that efforts are underway to capture the other suspects who escaped.

He said, “Luckily, one of them was arrested; others escaped. And then we recovered from them an AK-47 rifle with 20 live rounds of ammunition and a Beretta pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition in it.

“We are making a frantic effort to arrest others who have escaped. It is important to note that we want to thank those who saw the incident and quickly called the police.

“This highlights the importance of seeing something and immediately reporting it. We are begging everybody not to just stand by and watch when an incident happens without taking action. If you notice any suspicious activity or robbery taking place, call the control room immediately, and the police will help.

“So I want to thank the person that called us to action immediately. I will make a frantic effort to pick up the others who escaped from the scene of the incident.”