Police Kill Scores of Kidnappers in FCT, Rescue 12 Children

The Nigeria Police Force yesterday said its operatives launched an attack on a kidnap enclave killing many notorious kidnappers, including kidnap kingpin identified as Musa Wada (Sabo) Magaji, in an operation conducted around Mpape in Abuja.

This is coming as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad on Friday intercepted one Muhammad Isah, a resident of Kafanchan in Kaduna State, in a Toyota Hiace bus with Reg No APP 489 XE, conveying 12 under-aged children to Ogun State.

The children include four males and eight females.

A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Bureau–Intelligence Response Team (FIB-IRT), acting on intelligence, successfully attacked, neutralised and eliminated many notorious kidnappers, including the kidnap kingpin identified as Musa Wada (Sabo) Magaji, in an operation conducted around Mpape.

It said: "The armed bandits engaged the police operatives in a gun battle that lasted for about 30 minutes, which left many of the bandits fatally injured, while one of the police operatives sustained a bullet wound."

It said the operation followed the killing of Abubakar Wada, an associate of Musa Wada, who led security operatives to their hideout, on February 8, 2024.

"Musa Wada, aka Sabo, was the mastermind behind numerous kidnappings for ransom activities plaguing areas including Mpape and Bwari in the FCT, Kagarko in Kaduna; Masaka, and Nukun Village in Nasarawa State.

"His modus operandi involved identifying wealthy targets and mobilising armed gangs to carry out abductions for ransom," it said.

The statement further stated that "the successful raid on their hideout, situated in the outskirts of Mpape Hills, was conducted by the brave men of the FIBIRT through a surprise assault, resulting in the elimination of these notorious criminals".