Police raid bandits' hideout in Mamdam Forest, recover rifles and ammunition

Authorities in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have successfully raided a suspected bandits' hideout located in the Dajin Mamdam Forest. The operation, conducted by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit on August 2, 2026, resulted in the recovery of two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition. This action was a direct outcome of investigations into a suspected arms trafficking syndicate allegedly responsible for supplying weapons and ammunition to various criminal groups.

The police disclosed that the operation was prompted by information from Musbahu Ishaq, one of four suspects previously arrested for alleged involvement in supplying arms, ammunition, and illicit substances to bandits. Ishaq's information led investigators to the forest, situated between Plateau and Bauchi states, where the syndicate reportedly maintained its hideout.

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Further investigation established that Musbahu Ishaq obtained arms and ammunition from one Rabiu Hassan and supplied them to one Baba Alhaji Sanusi, a suspected bandit kingpin currently at large and believed to be hiding in a forest in Katsina State.

Further investigation revealed that Musbahu Ishaq acquired the recovered arms and ammunition from Rabiu Hassan and supplied them to Baba Alhaji Sanusi, a suspected bandit kingpin who is currently at large and believed to be hiding in a forest in Katsina State. The recovered weapons were found concealed within the forest hideout.

The FCT Police Command has stated that investigations are continuing with the aim of arresting other members of the syndicate, recovering more arms linked to their network, and prosecuting all involved suspects. The Commissioner of Police for the FCT, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, reaffirmed the command's dedication to intelligence-led policing and assured residents that operations would persist until criminal networks are dismantled. Residents are urged to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.

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The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, assuring residents that operations would continue until criminal networks are dismantled.