Police Kill Three Bandits, Thwart Planned Attack in Abuja

Security operatives in the Federal Capital Territory have averted a planned attack on a community in Kwali, following a coordinated operation that left three suspected bandits dead.

According to the FCT Police Command, intelligence indicated that the gang had finalized plans to strike the area on or before December 1. Acting on the alert, Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye ordered the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to intensify surveillance and track the group’s movements.

Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said the breakthrough came on November 30, when officers arrested a key member of the syndicate, Sani Mohammed Umar, popularly known as Boko. His mobile phone—believed to be the primary communication device for the gang—was recovered during the arrest.

Investigations linked the suspect to earlier attacks and kidnappings in ACO, Dupa, and Gwagwalada, as well as several armed robbery incidents across Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. He reportedly confessed that his accomplices were waiting for him at Gada Biyu Hills to launch another attack.

The Anti-Kidnapping team advanced into the area late that night, reaching the gang’s meeting point around 11 p.m. and setting up an ambush. Adeh said the bandits opened fire upon sighting the operatives, prompting a 30-minute exchange that resulted in the deaths of three suspects, while others fled with possible gunshot wounds.

Recovered items include three AK-47 rifles, three magazines, and 33 rounds of ammunition.

A joint operation involving police personnel and soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 176 Battalion is ongoing, with teams combing the forest and blocking escape routes. Local medical facilities have also been placed on alert for anyone seeking treatment for bullet injuries.

The Commissioner of Police praised the officers involved and urged residents to remain vigilant and share timely information with security agencies.