Police operatives in Abuja have dismantled a suspected kidnapping camp in the Ushafa area, rescuing seven victims during a coordinated security operation that involved a heavy exchange of gunfire. The raid followed a reported attack on residents by armed men who invaded the community late on 5 December.
FCT Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh confirmed the operation, saying the Command received a distress alert indicating that several people had been abducted. She noted that security agents moved swiftly, deploying a joint team of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Nigerian Army, and the Department of State Services.
The operation commenced at dawn on 6 December as security personnel fanned out across the rugged terrain surrounding Ushafa, launching a targeted search informed by actionable intelligence. Their efforts led them towards the outskirts of Mpape and deeper into remote settlements stretching toward Kagarko Local Government Area in neighbouring Kaduna State.
SP Adeh said the kidnappers opened fire upon spotting the advancing security team, triggering a gun battle in the dense environment. The officers responded “with superior force,” eventually overpowering the gunmen and forcing them to abandon their camp.
During the clearance operation, security operatives located and rescued one victim who had been held within the hideout. Subsequent sweeps of the general area led to the recovery of six more hostages from locations where the kidnappers had attempted to scatter them during the confrontation.
The rescued individuals were immediately taken for medical assessment and are reportedly in stable condition. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects, who escaped deeper into the forest during the exchange.
The latest rescue adds to growing pressure on kidnapping syndicates operating around Abuja’s border communities, with security agencies pledging intensified operations to dismantle criminal cells threatening residents.
