Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command have arrested six suspected members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate and recovered the N8.25 million ransom allegedly paid by the family of one of their victims.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, disclosed the breakthrough during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Sanusi said the command received a distress call on June 29, 2026, reporting the abduction of a young woman in the Maitama area of Abuja.

He explained that following the report, a team from the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit was immediately deployed to track the kidnappers.

According to the CP, the suspects later contacted the victim’s family and demanded a ransom of N20 million for her release.

“Unknown to the suspects, we were already hot on their trail. Our digital tracking revealed that they had taken the victim out of the FCT and kept her in Kwan-Kwashe Village, a remote settlement in Niger State,” he said.

Sanusi noted that although the suspects eventually collected N8.25 million from the victim’s family before releasing her on July 3, police operatives sustained the operation and arrested six members of the gang in Suleja, Niger State, on July 5.

He identified the suspects as Ifeoma Nnamchi, alleged to be the gang leader, Peter Rasheed Onwunumah, Olanipekun Anuoluwa, Jemimah Monday, Gabriel Nnamchi and Stanley Nnamchi. According to him, two of those arrested are children of the gang leader.

Items recovered from the suspects include the full N8.25 million ransom, two fully tinted operational vehicles—a Toyota Corolla with registration number SMK 559 FV and a Toyota Camry with registration number YAB 712 NH—a cutlass, seven pairs of AirPods, several pieces of jewellery suspected to have been stolen from previous victims, five mobile phones and a laptop.

The police commissioner further revealed that investigations showed that the alleged gang leader, Ifeoma Nnamchi, and another suspect, Olanipekun Anuoluwa, had previously been arrested by the FCT Police Command in 2022 and 2019 respectively for similar offences.

Despite their previous arrests, Sanusi said the suspects regrouped and resumed criminal activities, operating along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road and other parts of the FCT since 2024.

He added that members of the syndicate admitted to carrying out several “one chance” operations, although they could not accurately recall the total number.

According to the police, the gang confessed that in its five most recent operations, it kidnapped and robbed five female victims and extorted a total of N12.8 million in ransom.

Sanusi said the suspects remain in police custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police warned the public against the use of tinted glasses on vehicles, stating that criminal elements have been using such vehicles for their nefarious activities.

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI has announced the surrender of two senior terrorist commanders in Borno State of Sector 2 in Geidam on 4 July 2026.

This was made known in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Captain of the acting media information officer from the headquarters of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

The Nigerian military identified the surrendered suspects as “Munzirs” within the terrorist leadership structure, adding that they arrived in Maiduguri at about 7:30 p.m. on July 5 and are currently in military custody undergoing profiling, debriefing and intelligence exploitation.

The statement reads “Operation HADIN KAI has recorded another significant breakthrough in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign following the surrender of two senior commanders to troops of Sector 2 in Geidam on 4 July 2026. 

“The surrendered terrorists, identified as Munzirs within the terrorist leadership structure, arrived Maiduguri at approximately 1930 hours on 5 Jun 26 and are currently in military custody undergoing detailed profiling, debriefing and intelligence exploitation.

“Preliminary interrogation indicates that the two surrendered commanders occupied influential positions and possess extensive knowledge of the group’s operational activities, command arrangements and logistics architecture. 

“Initial intelligence obtained from the debriefing has provided valuable insights into the terrorists’ operational methods, sustainment mechanisms and support networks. The information is expected to significantly enhance ongoing intelligence-led operations aimed at locating, disrupting and dismantling remaining terrorist enclaves across the North East Theatre.

“The surrender of the two commanders represents another major setback for the terrorist faction and further validates the effectiveness of the sustained offensive operations being conducted by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in conjunction with Partners. The relentless military pressure, supported by coordinated land and air operations as well as enhanced intelligence efforts, continues to deny the terrorists freedom of movement, degrade their combat capability and erode their command and control structures. 

“Increasingly, terrorist leaders and fighters are finding continued resistance untenable, compelling them to abandon the insurgency and surrender to troops.

“This latest development further reinforces the growing disintegration of the terrorist organisation and reflects the cumulative impact of sustained military operations across the Theatre. Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in maintaining the operational momentum until all terrorist elements are neutralised or compelled to surrender. 

“Troops will continue to exploit actionable intelligence, intensify offensive operations and work in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders to eliminate the terrorist threat and restore enduring peace, security and stability across the North East.”

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected terrorist informant and logistics supplier during a routine patrol in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The development was disclosed in a post shared on Tuesday by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, via his X handle.

According to the post, the suspect was arrested at about 12:14 p.m. on Saturday in Kangiwa while troops of the 8 Division were conducting a patrol along the Falde–Gedere road.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect was allegedly involved in providing information and logistics support to terrorist elements operating in the area.

Items recovered from the suspect included a motorcycle, a mobile phone and N69,000, which investigators believe may be linked to the suspect’s alleged activities.

The suspect has been taken into military custody for further investigation.

The arrest is part of ongoing operations aimed at disrupting terrorist support networks and restricting the movement and logistics of criminal elements operating in parts of the North-West.