Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested six suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and recovered N8.25 million allegedly paid as ransom for the release of a female victim abducted in Abuja.
Intelligence sources told security analyst Zagazola Makama that detectives attached to the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) launched the operation after receiving a distress report on June 29 that a young woman had been kidnapped in the Maitama area of the FCT.
According to the sources, the kidnappers initially demanded N20 million but later accepted N8.25 million before releasing the victim on July 3.
The sources said digital tracking and investigations traced the victim’s location during her captivity to Kwan-Kwashe Village in neighbouring Niger State.
Following the victim’s release, police operatives maintained surveillance, leading to the arrest of six suspects on July 5 in Suleja, Niger State.
The suspects were identified as Ifeoma Nnamchi, 35, who is believed to be the leader of the syndicate; Peter Rasheed Onwunumah, 40; Olanipekun Anuoluwa, 46; Jemimah Monday, 25; Gabriel Nnamchi, 14; and Stanley Nnamchi, 17.
During the operation, detectives recovered the N8.25 million ransom, two vehicles—a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Camry—a cutlass, seven pairs of AirPods, assorted jewellery suspected to have been stolen from previous victims, five mobile phones, and a laptop.
Sources said preliminary investigations revealed that the alleged gang leader, Ifeoma Nnamchi, and another suspect, Olanipekun Anuoluwa, had previously been arrested by the FCT Police Command in 2022 and 2019, respectively, over similar offences.
Investigators believe the syndicate has been operating along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road, and other parts of the FCT since 2024.
Police said investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the criminal network and establish possible links to previous kidnapping incidents.
