ABUJA: The Federal Capital Territory FCT Police Command has arrested five notorious bandit leaders who had been terrorising Abuja and neighbouring states through kidnapping and armed robbery, recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition during the operation.
Spokesperson of the Command, SP Josephine Adeh, said the operation, which was coordinated by the Commander of the Scorpion Squad, took place between September 20 and 28, 2025, after weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
She explained that the bandits leaders -identified as Abdullahi Garuba, also known as Alhaji Ore (40), Yusuf Inuwa, also known as Alhaji Dabunda (59), David Kaika, also known as Baba (29), Baba Imaji, a 36-year-old female, and Ibrahim Nasiru, also known as Pepper—had been on the wanted list of security agencies for several high-profile kidnappings across the North Central, North West and North East regions.
Items recovered from the gang include 2,186 rounds of live 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, two AK-47 rifles with obliterated serial numbers, a locally fabricated pistol with two live cartridges, and five operational motorcycles used for their criminal activities.
Adeh added that all the suspects confessed to their crimes and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, while efforts are underway to track down other fleeing members of the gang.
Commending the operatives, FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, vowed to intensify the crackdown on banditry and criminality in the capital territory. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities via the Command’s emergency lines: 08061581938, 08032003913, or the CRU line 08107314192.
