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Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have thwarted a planned kidnapping and armed attack in Byazhin Forest, Abuja.
The Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh. According to the statement, the operation, carried out on October 10, resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and thirty rounds of live ammunition.
The operation was based on credible intelligence provided by the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) of the Force Headquarters, which revealed that a notorious bandit leader identified as Idrisa, popularly known as “Mai Duna,” was planning coordinated assaults on villages around Byazhin Forest.
Acting on the intelligence, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit swiftly deployed tactical teams and set up an ambush along the routes used by the suspects.
At about 1:00 a.m. on 11 October, operatives intercepted two groups of heavily armed bandits approaching the area. A fierce gun duel ensued, lasting roughly twenty minutes. Despite strong resistance, the police overpowered the assailants, forcing them to retreat into the forest with gunshot wounds. Reinforcement teams from nearby police and military formations joined the operation to secure the area.
A subsequent search of the scene led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle with a defaced serial number, a magazine, and thirty live 7.6mm rounds.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, praised the officers for their courage and professionalism, noting that their swift action averted a major security breach in the nation’s capital.
He instructed medical facilities across the FCT and neighbouring states to immediately report any individuals with gunshot wounds to the nearest police station. The Commissioner also urged residents to remain alert and provide timely information to support police operations.
