FCT Police foil planned community attack, kill three bandits in fierce gun battle

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has thwarted a planned attack on a community within the territory, following a coordinated intelligence-led operation that led to the arrest of a key suspect and the neutralisation of three notorious bandits.

This comes on the heels of recent kidnapping incidents in ACO Community, Gwagwalada, and Bwari.

In response to the heightened security concerns, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, ordered the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to intensify operations aimed at dismantling the criminal network behind the attacks.

According to the Command, credible intelligence later revealed that the syndicate was finalising plans to launch another violent operation on or before December 1, 2025.

Read also: Army rescues 12 abducted teenage girls in Borno

“Their plot involved invading a community, abducting residents, demanding ransom, and inflicting further harm”, the Police said.

Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit traced and arrested one of the gang’s key conspirators, identified as Sani Mohammed Umar, also known as Boko.

According to the Police, he was apprehended on November 30, 2025, at about 2:11 p.m. His mobile phone, believed to be the primary device used to coordinate the gang’s operations, was recovered during the arrest.

Preliminary investigations, by the Command linked the suspect to previous attacks and kidnappings in ACO and Dupa in Gwagwalada, as well as armed robbery incidents across Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.

He reportedly confessed that other gang members were waiting for him at Gada Biyu Hills in Kwali, where they had gathered to stage their next attack.

Later that night, at about 11:01 p.m., the Anti-Kidnapping team, led by the Officer-in-Charge, advanced into the forest and strategically ambushed the gang’s meeting point.

On sighting the operatives, the armed bandits opened fire, sparking a fierce 30-minute gun duel.

Police operatives responded with superior firepower, neutralizing three members of the gang, while others fled the scene with suspected gunshot wounds.

“Items recovered from the criminals include three AK-47 rifles, three magazines loaded with 33 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

“A joint operation involving police operatives and troops of the Forward Operation Base (FOB), 176 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, has since been launched.

“The teams are combing the forest and blocking escape routes in a bid to track down fleeing gang members”, the Command noted.

According to the Police, medical facilities in the area have also been placed on alert to report anyone presenting with gunshot wounds to security agencies or contact the Command immediately via 08032003913 or 08061581938.

The Commissioner of Police commended the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for its professionalism and gallantry.

He also applauded residents for providing crucial intelligence and urged the public to remain vigilant and continue sharing timely security information.

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