The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested five suspects allegedly linked to a kidnapping and banditry network operating around Abuja.

Among those arrested is a pregnant woman accused of providing food and logistical support to members of the criminal group.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja.

According to him, the arrests followed a clearance operation carried out in the Byazin area of the FCT on June 11, 2026. During the operation, some suspected bandits were arrested, others were neutralised, and kidnapped victims were rescued.

Sanusi said further intelligence-led investigations led security operatives to another hideout where additional suspects were arrested.

He said, “One of the suspects operates as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal gang and their hostages. She was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest, yet her pregnancy did not deter her from continuously committing this heinous crime.”

The suspect, identified as Hauwa Shafiu, was taken to the hospital after her arrest, where she later gave birth.

Sanusi said, “The baby is sound and safe. She too is sound. We have provided every medical need while we watch her recuperate.”

Other suspects arrested include Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, and Shamsudeen Mustapha.

According to the police commissioner, preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects were part of a network involved in kidnapping and banditry activities within and around the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “The group had infiltrated and integrated into a local community just about one kilometre from the FCT, enabling them to gather intelligence and coordinate repeated attacks on targeted persons and locations.”

Items recovered during the operation included four motorcycles, quantities of tramadol tablets, five mobile phones, a Point of Sale (POS) machine, cooking utensils, and ₦320,000 in cash.

Sanusi said investigators suspect the money may be linked to proceeds from a recent kidnapping operation, adding that one of the suspects allegedly confessed that it was his share of a ransom payment.

The police commissioner also alleged that one suspect admitted providing a motorcycle that helped two fleeing bandits escape during the June 11 operation.

He further accused Mustapha of supplying illicit drugs to members of the criminal network.

Sanusi announced that the command, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, would move to demolish structures identified as hideouts used by the suspects.

He added that efforts are ongoing to arrest other individuals linked to the network, while several wanted suspects have already been identified by security agencies.

The Ondo State Police Command has arraigned a married woman for allegedly attacking her husband with a machete during a domestic dispute.

According to the police, the incident left the victim, identified as Olatunde Julius, with severe injuries to his left hand.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on June 2, 2026, following an argument between the couple.

Jimoh explained that the suspect allegedly used a machete to attack her husband during the dispute, causing serious injuries.

The victim was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment, where medical personnel attended to him and issued a medical report to assist police investigations.

According to the police spokesperson, investigations were completed and the command established a prima facie case against the suspect.

As a result, she was charged to court for prosecution.

Jimoh reiterated the commitment of the Ondo State Police Command to tackling all forms of domestic violence, noting that such acts pose a serious threat to lives and public safety.

He also urged members of the public to promptly report cases of domestic abuse and violence to security agencies to enable swift intervention and prevent further harm.

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 29 suspects and recovered firearms, stolen vehicles, and illicit drugs during a series of operations carried out across the state over the past two weeks.

The Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Kaduna.

According to him, the achievements were made through intelligence-led policing, cooperation with other security agencies, and information provided by residents.

He said those arrested include 12 suspected kidnappers, 13 suspects linked to murder cases, and four suspected vehicle thieves. Police also recovered four stolen vehicles during the operations.

One of the major operations took place on June 5 when police tracked suspected bandits to a forest hideout in Sagamu, Ogun State, following intelligence on the movement of illegal arms.

The six suspects arrested were identified as Bukar Bulama, Abubakar Mohammad, Mohammad Usman, Ibrahim Sani, Aliyu Usman, and Dan Bello Umaru.

Items recovered from the hideout included two AK-47 rifles, one pump-action shotgun, a locally made pistol, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and four cartridges.

Rabiu said the suspects have been transferred to Kaduna for further investigation and prosecution.

In another operation, detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Zaria arrested Yahya Alhaji Yusuf on May 28 over allegations of kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, and banditry.

Police said the suspect confessed to abducting two people along the Buruku axis and collecting a ransom of ₦6 million. An AK-47 rifle was also reportedly recovered from him.

The command also arrested Usama Tijjani, who allegedly used fake identities to lure women to hotels before stealing their phones and jewellery.

Investigators said the suspect confessed to defrauding more than 200 women. Police recovered 20 mobile phones and gold jewellery valued at over ₦30 million.

In a separate operation, a joint security team led by CSP Sani Ibrahim Zuntu arrested 13 suspects during a raid on Katuga Unguwar Ruwa Village in Kagarko Local Government Area on June 11.

The arrests were linked to the deaths of Isiyaka Bijimi and Mercy Danladi, which police said were connected to accusations of witchcraft that triggered violence in the community.

Among those arrested were Comfort Emmanuel, Ayuba Jatau, Daniel Enoch, and 10 others.

Police also recorded success in their fight against drug trafficking after arresting Jamilu Ahmed and Mubarak Ibrahim in Zaria with 2,700 sachets of Tramadol.

The suspects reportedly confessed to distributing the drugs within the city.

In efforts to tackle vehicle theft, police arrested Shamsudeen Usman for allegedly stealing a Golf III Station Wagon in Makera, Kakuri. The vehicle was later recovered along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Three other suspects identified as Shehu Muhammed, Abubakar Musa, and Adamu Manu were also arrested while allegedly trying to sell a stolen Toyota Corolla LE in Kaduna.

In another development, police recovered a Hyundai Sonata that had been stolen at Murtala Mohammed Square after the suspected thieves abandoned the vehicle while fleeing from security operatives.

The police commissioner described the operations as proof of the command’s commitment to maintaining pressure on criminal elements and improving security across Kaduna State.