The Nigerian Police Force National Headquarters, Abuja, said the recently launched Special Intervention Squad, SIS, against criminal activities in the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, has arrested 16 suspects, including three Bwari-based kidnappers.

This was contained in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

According to the statement, the squad also recovered a significant arsenal of arms and ammunition, including a general purpose machine gun.

According to the statement, the suspects were arrested at various locations through collaborative efforts between Department of Force Intelligence–Intelligence Response Team (DFI-IRT), the FCT Command Anti-Violent Crimes Section, Anti-kidnapping Section and other state commands of the Nigeria Police Force.

It said the breakthrough was achieved following the recent launch of the SIS by the IGP and the strengthening of the security landscape in the FCT.

The statement further added that amongst the 16 suspects were three Bwari-based kidnappers, Idris Ishaku, 27, Bala Umar, 27, and Dahiru Salisu,27, who have been responsible for series of armed robbery cases and kidnappings in the Bwari Area Council and other parts of Abuja.

“Similarly, the combined team of operatives have arrested 13 suspects for various other crimes. Amongst the achievements recorded is the foiling of another kidnap plot through technical intelligence resulting in the arrest of the above-named Bwari-based kidnappers, and weapons recovered from them, ” it said.

It further added that following a report on the abduction of a victim from his house along with his Hilux van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL, by four armed men who disguised in a white Mercedes Benz 230 car, police operatives, in an intelligence propelled investigation discovered that the victim being taken to Kano State, was dispossessed of his ATM cards in Kaduna while the sum of N500,000 was transferred from his account.

It said the suspects, however, ran out of luck as they were intercepted by police operatives at a filling station in Kaduna where three of them escaped, while one, Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael, was arrested, adding that the victim was rescued unhurt, and his Hilux Van recovered.

It noted that it was discovered that Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and his accomplices had earlier been arrested sometime in November 2023 and charged for similar offences at the High Court, Kwali, Abuja, but went back to committing even worse crimes while on court bail.