Pregnant woman cooking for kidnap gang arrested in Abuja

Authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have apprehended five individuals connected to a kidnapping and banditry ring operating near Abuja. The arrests were made following a targeted operation in the Byazin area, which also resulted in the rescue of victims and the neutralization of some bandits.

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As a follow-up to that operation, upon further engagements, we stormed a suspected bandits’ and kidnappers’ hideout within the same area and arrested some suspects.

A notable arrest was that of Hauwa Shafiu, a heavily pregnant woman who served as the gang's cook and logistics provider, supplying both the criminals and their captives. FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, stated that Shafiu continued her criminal activities despite her pregnancy. She was taken to a hospital upon arrest and has since given birth, with both mother and child receiving medical care while remaining in police custody.

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

Other arrested suspects include Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, and Shamsudeen Mustapha. Preliminary investigations indicate the group had embedded themselves within a local community near the FCT border to gather intelligence and coordinate attacks. The police recovered several items, including four motorcycles, tramadol tablets, mobile phones, a POS machine, cooking utensils, and N320,000 in cash, which was identified as part of a N7 million ransom payment from a recent kidnapping.

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

Further confessions revealed that one suspect used a motorcycle to aid the escape of two bandits during an earlier operation. Mustapha was identified as an active drug supplier to the network. The police command is continuing its efforts to dismantle the criminal organization.

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