Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
ABUJA, Nigeria – A couple in the Byazhin area of the Federal Capital Territory narrowly escaped being abducted in the early hours of Thursday, June 4, 2026, after operatives of the FCT Police Command engaged suspected kidnappers in a fierce gun battle that lasted over 30 minutes, successfully thwarting the attack and recovering an AK-47 rifle. The command confirmed the operation in a statement issued on Friday, June 5, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out following intelligence reports indicating the presence of suspected kidnappers around the Redeemed Church area of Byazhin, near Paze Hills. Operatives attached to the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by the Officer Commanding the unit, were swiftly mobilized to the location, arriving at about 12:34 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered the armed suspects attempting to forcefully gain entry into a residence with the intention of abducting the occupants. The suspects opened fire upon sighting the police team, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire that lasted for over half an hour. The officers successfully repelled the attackers, forcing the suspects to flee into nearby bushes with suspected gunshot wounds. No police officer was reported injured in the operation.
Items recovered from the scene included one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, and seven rounds of live ammunition. The intended victims, identified only as Mr. Samson and his wife, were rescued unharmed. The couple was evacuated to the General Hospital in Gwarinpa, where they received medical attention for trauma-related distress before being placed under protective custody. Their identities have been withheld for security reasons.
The Commissioner of Police for the FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, commended the gallant operatives for their bravery and professionalism. Sanusi, a seasoned officer with decades of service who assumed duty as the 35th Commissioner of Police for the FCT in March 2026, has since launched a crackdown on criminal elements, promising an intelligence-led approach to policing the nation’s capital. Following the operation, he directed enhanced surveillance patrols within the Byazhin area to prevent further criminal activities and reassure residents of their safety. The police also urged the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious activities or individuals to the nearest security agency.
The successful operation, however, occurred against a backdrop of escalating insecurity in the Byazhin district of Kubwa, a fast-growing suburb in the Bwari Area Council. In a separate development on the same Thursday, armed men attacked the Paze community within the same area, killing a local vigilante and kidnapping four residents, including a pastor and an 11-year-old boy. That attack occurred around 1:00 a.m., just minutes after the foiled kidnapping attempt on the couple. Sources in the area said the attackers, suspected to be the same fleeing syndicate, invaded several houses during the operation, shooting sporadically and abducting their victims. The kidnapped victims include a pastor whose identity has not been released, an 11-year-old child, and two other residents. A member of the local vigilance group was shot dead while attempting to resist the abductors.
The twin incidents have heightened tensions in Byazhin and its environs, where residents have repeatedly voiced concerns over the rising wave of criminality. In March 2026, no fewer than 20 people were kidnapped within a two-week period in the same district, prompting a major rescue operation that saw troops free 19 abducted victims. Despite these occasional security sweeps, kidnappers and bandits appear to be regrouping, exploiting the vast bushes and hills that surround the satellite town. CP Sanusi, who took over the FCT command in March, has vowed to rid the nation’s capital of criminal elements, declaring that “there will be no crime in FCT under my watch” and relaunching “Operation Sweep” in May 2026 to intensify coordinated raids. Yet, the events of June 4 suggest that criminal networks remain deeply entrenched, operating with a brazenness that continues to terrorize vulnerable communities.
The FCT Police Command has assured residents that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and rescue the four abducted victims from the Paze community. The command has also appealed for calm, urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing anti-crime operations. For the residents of Byazhin, however, the message is clear: while the police have shown they can win gun battles, the war for the soul of their community is far from over.
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