The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal networks operating around Abuja, demolishing a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in the Paze-Byazhin hills and arresting four individuals accused of providing logistical support to bandits.
The operation, carried out on June 15, forms part of an ongoing security offensive targeting criminal elements operating in forested areas bordering the FCT, Kaduna State, and Niger State.
According to police authorities, operatives raided makeshift camps hidden within the rugged Paze-Byazhin terrain, a location security agencies have identified as a strategic refuge for kidnappers and armed gangs carrying out attacks along key transportation corridors and nearby communities.
During the operation, officers destroyed structures allegedly used by criminal groups for shelter, planning, and the detention of kidnapping victims.
Police said the four suspects arrested during the raid are believed to have played critical support roles within the criminal network by supplying food, medication, and other essential items to bandits operating in the area.
Among those taken into custody was Hauwa Shafiu, a pregnant woman alleged to have worked as a cook for the criminal group. Authorities disclosed that she recently gave birth to a healthy baby while in custody and that both mother and child are receiving appropriate medical attention.
Security officials stressed that investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of each suspect’s involvement and to identify other members of the network.
The latest operation follows a series of successful raids conducted by the FCT Police Command earlier in the month.
During operations on June 9 and June 11, police operatives reportedly rescued five kidnapping victims, including a pastor, from captivity. Authorities also confirmed that two suspected criminals were neutralized during armed confrontations with security personnel.
In addition, officers recovered two AK-47 rifles and other items believed to have been used by the criminal group.
The Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Ajao Adewale Sanusi, has been widely commended for his direct involvement in the campaign against kidnappers and bandits operating around the nation’s capital.
Residents and community leaders have praised the command’s recent operations, describing them as evidence of a renewed commitment to improving security in rural and suburban areas surrounding Abuja.
The Paze-Byazhin hills and adjoining forest corridors have long been regarded as security flashpoints due to their proximity to multiple state boundaries and their difficult terrain, which criminal groups have exploited to evade law enforcement.
Security experts note that disrupting logistical support networks is often as important as confronting armed criminals directly. They argue that food suppliers, informants, transporters, and other collaborators frequently play crucial roles in sustaining criminal operations.
Police authorities have urged residents of communities around the FCT to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, movements, or individuals to security agencies.
They emphasized that community cooperation remains essential to ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping and banditry networks.
As investigations continue, authorities say additional arrests may follow and have assured the public that all those found to be aiding criminal activities will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The operation represents another significant step in the broader campaign to improve security around Abuja and restore public confidence in the safety of communities across the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring states.
