Police Avert Community Attack in Abuja, Kill three Bandits.
Operatives of the FCT Police Command say they foiled a planned large‑scale attack in the Kwali area of Abuja after a late‑night forest ambush that killed three suspected bandits and forced others to flee. According to a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, intelligence had flagged a syndicate behind previous kidnappings and robberies in communities including ACO, Gwagwalada, Dupa, Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Kwali. On November 30, police arrested a key suspect, Sani Mohammed Umar, also known as “Boko,” recovering his mobile phone, believed to have been used to coordinate the criminal group’s operations. Records show the suspect linked the gang to recurring kidnappings in ACO and Dupa, as well as armed robbery attacks across Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. He also disclosed that the gang had convened at Gada Biyu Hills, Kwali, to prepare for another planned assault. At about 11:01 p.m. the same night, a tactical team from the Command’s Anti‑Kidnapping Unit and troops from the 176 Battalion, Nigerian Army advanced into the forest and laid an ambush. On sighting the officers the heavily armed bandits opened fire. A 30‑minute gun duel ensued during which three of the assailants were neutralized. Others reportedly escaped with suspected gunshot wounds. At the scene security agents recovered three AK‑47 rifles, three magazines, and thirty‑three rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. The command says joint operations continue across forested areas of the FCT — combing hideouts, blocking escape routes, and urging medical facilities to report any gunshot victims. The Commissioner of Police for the FCT, CP Miller Dantawaye, commended the professionalism of the Anti‑Kidnapping Unit and applauded the public for timely intelligence. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements. This latest operation is viewed as a significant blow against a network that has terrorized several FCT communities in recent months — one that appears now under pressure following the arrest of a key suspect and the death of core members.
| 2025-12-02 19:12:27