Police Nab Pregnant Cook Allegedly Supplying Food to Kidnappers

Police Nab Pregnant Cook Allegedly Supplying Food to Kidnappers
Rescue Victims, Arrest Five Suspected Kidnap Gang Members
Recover Ransom Cash

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping and banditry syndicate operating around Abuja, including a heavily pregnant woman accused of supplying food and logistics to the criminal gang and their captives.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the suspects were paraded on Monday by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, who said the arrests followed a security operation carried out in the Byazin area of Abuja on June 11, 2026.

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According to the commissioner, the operation led to the arrest of several suspects, the neutralisation of some bandits, and the rescue of kidnapping victims. Acting on intelligence gathered during the raid, police operatives later stormed another hideout linked to the gang and arrested additional suspects.

One of those arrested, identified as Hauwa Shafiu, was allegedly responsible for cooking and supplying food and other essentials to the gang members and their victims in captivity.

Sanusi said despite being heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest, she remained actively involved in supporting the operations of the criminal network.

He disclosed that she was immediately taken to a hospital after her arrest on his directive, where she later delivered a baby.

“The baby is safe and healthy, and she is also receiving medical care. She remains under observation at the police clinic while investigations continue,” he said.

Other suspects arrested during the operation were identified as Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa and Shamsudeen Mustapha, alongside another member of the gang.

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Police investigations revealed that the suspects were part of a kidnapping and banditry network that had infiltrated a community located about one kilometre from the FCT boundary. According to the police, the group used the location to gather intelligence and coordinate attacks on residents and travellers.

Sanusi said the suspects had embedded themselves within the community, making it easier for them to monitor potential targets and support criminal operations around Abuja and neighbouring areas.

Items recovered from the suspects included four motorcycles, large quantities of tramadol tablets, five mobile phones, a Point of Sale (POS) machine, cooking utensils and N320,000 in cash.

The commissioner said one of the suspects admitted that the money represented his share of a N7 million ransom paid by relatives of a kidnapping victim.

Police also revealed that one suspect confessed to helping two fleeing bandits escape during the June 11 operation by providing them with a motorcycle.

Investigators further identified Mustapha as a supplier of illicit drugs to members of the criminal network.

Sanusi announced that the police, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, would demolish buildings linked to the suspects.

He said any property identified as a criminal hideout would be brought down as part of efforts to dismantle the network.

The commissioner also disclosed that several other suspected bandits had been declared wanted, noting that security agencies had obtained their photographs and were intensifying efforts to track them down.

“As they are looking for us, we are equally looking for them,” he said.