Police arrest four over ‘one chance’ robbery, kidnapping in Abuja

The federal capital territory (FCT) police command says its operatives have arrested four suspects involved in a “one chance” robbery and attempted kidnapping.

In a statement on Sunday, Josephine Adeh, the command’s spokesperson, said operatives rescued two kidnapped victims during the operation.

Adeh said the suspects were arrested on October 9 at Dape village, following a “near-deadly confrontation” with police operatives from the Life Camp division.

She said operatives acted on a distress call by a victim who reported being abducted by some suspected criminals demanding a ransom of N1 million for her release.

“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives from Life Camp Division immediately swung into action,” she said.

“Through the deployment of digital and tactical intelligence, on 9th October 2025, at about 4:30 a.m., the suspects were arrested at Dape Village after a near-deadly confrontation with the police.”

Adeh said two victims were rescued during the operation, noting that “one of them, who sustained multiple stab wounds inflicted by the suspects, was promptly rushed to Gwarinpa General Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment”.

She identified the suspects as Solomon Tanko, Samuel Audu, Chigozie Joseph, and Emmanuel Chidiebere.

The police spokesperson said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had been involved in a string of one-chance robberies in the Bannex and Kado areas of Abuja.

“They used a vehicle with tinted windows to deceive unsuspecting passengers and have confessed to robbing six victims, both men and women, before their arrest,” Adeh stated.

She listed items recovered from the suspects to include 15 international passports, two sharp daggers, two cutlasses, bloodstained documents, four mobile phones, two hammers, and three biros.

Adeh said the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

She said Ajao Adewale, the commissioner of police in the FCT, commended the swift response of the Life Camp divisional police officers and urged residents to trust the police and report incidents promptly.

He also advised members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through the command’s emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, and CRU FCT: 08107314192.