Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested six suspected members of a notorious kidnapping and “one chance” robbery syndicate, recovering N8.25 million allegedly paid as ransom for the release of an abducted woman.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, disclosed the development during a press briefing on Tuesday while updating residents on the command’s ongoing crime-fighting operations.
Sanusi said detectives from the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) launched an investigation after receiving a distress report on June 29 that a young woman had been kidnapped in the Maitama area of Abuja.
According to him, the abductors initially demanded N20 million but later accepted N8.25 million before releasing the victim on July 3. Investigations, aided by digital tracking, traced the victim’s captivity to Kwan-Kwashe Village in neighbouring Niger State.
The police maintained surveillance after the victim regained her freedom, leading to the arrest of the six suspects in Suleja, Niger State, on July 5.
The suspects were identified as Ifeoma Nnamchi, 35, alleged to be the syndicate leader; Peter Rasheed Onwunumah, 40; Olanipekun Anuoluwa, 46; Jemimah Monday, 25; Gabriel Nnamchi, 14; and Stanley Nnamchi, 17.
Items recovered from the suspects include the N8.25 million ransom, a Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry, a cutlass, seven pairs of AirPods, assorted jewellery believed to have been stolen from previous victims, five mobile phones, and a laptop.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the alleged gang leader, Ifeoma Nnamchi, and another suspect, Olanipekun Anuoluwa, had previously been arrested by the FCT Police Command in 2022 and 2019, respectively, over similar offences.
The command said investigations are ongoing as efforts continue to dismantle criminal networks operating within and around the FCT.
