FCT Police Arrest Kidnap Kingpins, Recover Firearms, ₦7.4m Cash

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of the FCT Command have arrested two suspected kidnap kingpins: Masud Abdullahi of Karu LGA, Nasarawa State (the gang leader), and Muhammad Tahir of Jos, Plateau State, following a counter-kidnapping operation.

The suspects had been terrorising the FCT and its environs for some time now with their gang members responsible for some of the kidnappings in the Territory.

The police said the arrest followed a report received on August 16, 2025, at approximately 12:05am, that a kidnapping syndicate had invaded an estate in Karu area of Abuja.

FCT police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said: “The armed assailants forcefully broke into the home of one Barrister Henry Chichi and abducted him to an unknown location. Upon receipt of the report, the command’s anti-kidnapping unit immediately swung into action, mounting intense pressure on the kidnappers, which eventually led to the safe release of the victim on August 17, 2025 at about 9:05 p.m.”

The police further said in a follow-up operation, in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Police Command, the assailants were tracked and intercepted along the Guraku axis of the Nasarawa-Abuja Highway after their operational vehicle, a red Opel Vectra with registration number BLD 566 AT, lost control.

While some of the gang members escaped, the gang leader, Masud Abdullahi, and his associate, Muhammad Tahir, were arrested.

The suspects later led police operatives to their hideout in Karshi Forest, Nasarawa State, where one more gang member, identified as Kabiru Jibril (22 years), was arrested.

Exhibits recovered from the hideout included: ₦7.4 million cash, three AK-47 rifles with magazines, One G3 rifle with magazine, 16 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, One Tecno handset.

The FCT commissioner of police, CP Ajao Adewale, has commended the courage and professionalism of the operatives and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all FCT residents.

He further assured that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.