FCT Police arrest pregnant woman, four others in kidnapping network bust

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested five people in connection with kidnapping operations around Abuja, including a woman in advanced pregnancy who served as a cook and logistics supplier for the criminal gang. The suspect, identified as Hauwa Shafiu, was apprehended during a clearance operation in the Byazhin area of Bwari Local Government Area on June 11, 2026.

Four other suspects were also taken into custody during the same operation. According to the FCT Police Commissioner, Ahm Sanusi, the arrests followed anti-kidnapping operations that led to the recovery of items linked to the kidnapping network and the rescue of at least one victim held in captivity.

The operation involved storming a hideout used by the gang in the area. The identities of the other four suspects were given as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muham Yunusa, and Shamsudeen Mustapha, though sources differ on the exact number of additional suspects arrested alongside Shafiu.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects formed part of a criminal network involved in kidnapping and banditry activities within and around the FCT. Shafiu's role involved continuously supplying food and logistical support to the gang while they held hostages.

Sources indicate the group had successfully infiltrated local communities, which enabled them to gather intelligence and coordinate repeated abductions in the region. One source noted that Shafiu gave birth shortly after her arrest, though the exact timing and circumstances remain unclear from the available reports.

The operation represents the latest in a series of police actions targeting kidnapping networks operating on the outskirts of Nigeria's capital territory. The investigation into the suspects' activities and their connections to other criminal elements is ongoing.