The Federal Capital Territory Police Command stopped a planned kidnapping and armed attack by suspected bandits in Byazhin Forest, a suburb of Abuja, and recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammo during the operation.
The raid, according to the Command, was part of ongoing efforts to combat the return of banditry and kidnapping along the FCT’s border areas, particularly in Bwari, Kuje, and Gwagwalada councils, where security agencies have recently increased patrols.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the operation was launched after credible intelligence from the Force Headquarters’ Technical Intelligence Unit indicated that a notorious bandit leader, identified as Idrisa, also known as “Mai Duna,” had finalised plans to launch simultaneous attacks on selected villages along the Byazhin forest axis.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence report, on 10th October 2025, at about 9:00 p.m., the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed tactical teams to mount an ambush along the suspected routes of the criminals,” the statement read.
On October 11, around 1:00 a.m., the operatives reportedly stopped two groups of armed robbers coming towards the region, sparking an intense gun battle that lasted approximately twenty minutes.
According to the authorities, the attackers were apprehended and forced to retreat into the forest, where they were shot.
“Following the encounter, reinforcement was promptly deployed from nearby Police and Military formations, while additional police units secured the general area and blocked potential escape routes. A thorough search of the scene led to the recovery of: • One (1) AK-47 rifle with a defaced serial number, • One (1) magazine, and • Thirty (30) rounds of live 7.6mm ammunition, ” the statement added.
Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, commended the operatives for their gallantry and quick response, noting that their action averted what could have been a major security breach within the capital territory.
“He further directed all medical facilities within the FCT and adjoining states to be on alert and report any person found with gunshot wounds to the nearest police formation immediately, ” the statement added.
The FCT, which serves as the nation’s seat of authority, has recently experienced increased security challenges.
As a result, the FCT Police Command has increased collaborative operations with military formations and local vigilante groups to remove criminal hideouts in forested areas between Abuja and Niger State.
The success of the Byazhin operation is likely to increase public trust and reassure inhabitants in the FCT’s rural communities about the police’s dedication to their protection.
