FCT police nab gunrunner, rescue kidnap hostages

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old man, Matthew Vaaswem, suspected to be supplying firearms to kidnappers along Tungan-Maje and Gawu axis of Abuja suburb.

A statement by the FCT police command spokesperson, ASP Maryam Yusuf, said the suspect confessed to supplying firearms to kidnappers that operate in neigbouring communities in Niger State.

She said the suspect was arrested at Tipper-Garage, Gwagwalada, by operatives of Gwagwalada police division.

Acording to her, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect belongs to a gunrunning gang and effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing gangs.

Maryam said exhibits recovered from the suspect include two single barrel Dane guns and two locally fabricated short guns.

She also disclosed that three hostages were also rescued by operatives of the command’s anti-kidnapping squad in a joint operation with vigilantes and hunters along Sabon Gari and Shapete villages in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

She said those rescued were Amina Ahmadu, Huraira Umaru and Jahori Umaru, who were taken hostage by armed men in the wee hours of last Thursday.

Also, the police operatives from Gwagwa division have arrested three suspected armed robbers; Idris Ibrahim, Adamu Husseini and Mohammed Hassan, while attempting to break into their victim’s residence in Gwagwa.

The spokesperson said the suspects would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations.