Police rescue four Abuja kidnap victims

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has rescued four residents abducted during a kidnapping attack in the Yellow House area of Mpape, Abuja.

News gathered that the rescue came after a gun battle with the suspected kidnappers in the Jikoko Hills.

The command, however, said one resident was killed during the attack, while another who sustained a gunshot wound was responding to treatment in hospital.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.

According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 10:40pm on Wednesday when the command received a distress call that kidnappers had invaded the Yellow House area of Mpape and abducted four residents.

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Sanusi, immediately deployed operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, personnel of the Katampe and Mpape divisions, as well as officers of the 24 Police Mobile Force Squadron, to rescue the victims.

Adeh said preliminary investigations showed that the attackers shot two residents before fleeing with four hostages through the Jikoko Hills towards the Ushafa Forest.

She added that the injured victims were rushed to a hospital, where one of them, identified only as Mr Babangida, was confirmed dead, while the second victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, is responding positively to treatment.

The police spokesperson said operatives maintained the pursuit of the kidnappers from the night of the attack until the early hours of Friday, when they intercepted the suspects around Jikoko Hills.

She said, “The operatives maintained relentless pursuit of the kidnappers from the night of the incident till Friday, July 10, 2026, when they located the kidnappers at approximately 12:05 a.m. around Jikoko Hills heading towards Ushafa Forest with the hostages.”

According to her, the kidnappers opened fire after sighting the advancing police team, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

“Demonstrating superior tactical capability, the operatives overwhelmed the suspects, forcing them to abandon the hostages and flee deeper into the surrounding hills and forest in a desperate attempt to evade arrest,” Adeh stated.

She confirmed that all four abducted victims were rescued unharmed, evacuated from the forest and reunited with their families.

The spokesperson added that security operatives were continuing the manhunt for the fleeing suspects.

The Commissioner of Police assured residents that the command remained committed to apprehending those behind the attack and bringing them to justice.

“He further urges members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the FCT Police Command emergency lines,” the statement added.