Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have thwarted a kidnapping attempt in the Byazhin forest area of Kubwa, Abuja, recovering an AK-47 rifle and ammunition during a coordinated security operation.
Spokesperson for the Command, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the operation was part of sustained efforts to maintain security across the nation’s capital.
According to her, the operation was launched following credible intelligence from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) at Force Headquarters, which indicated an imminent attack planned by a notorious bandit leader identified as Idrisa, also known as Mai Duna.
She said: “The intelligence revealed that the suspect and his gang had concluded plans to launch simultaneous attacks on selected village settlements around the Byazhin forest area of the FCT.”
Acting on the information, Adeh said, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed tactical teams and mounted an ambush along the suspected routes on October 10, 2025, around 9 p.m.
“At about 1 a.m. on October 11, 2025, the police sighted a large group of heavily armed bandits advancing toward the area in two groups.
The operatives engaged them in a fierce gun duel that lasted about 20 minutes,” she said.
Despite stiff resistance, the police reportedly overpowered the assailants, forcing them to retreat into the forest with gunshot wounds.
Adeh added that reinforcements from nearby police and military formations were immediately deployed to the area, while additional units cordoned off possible escape routes.
A search of the scene led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with a defaced serial number, a magazine, and 30 rounds of live 7.6mm ammunition.
The spokesperson reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies.