The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has rescued four residents abducted by gunmen during an attack on the Yellow House area of Mpape, Abuja, following a fierce gun battle with the kidnappers.
Key Highlight:
- FCT Police rescued four kidnapped residents after a gun battle with abductors in Mpape.
- The kidnappers abandoned the hostages and fled into the surrounding forest.
- The attack left two residents shot, with one victim later dying in hospital.
- Police tracked the suspects from Jikoko Hills towards the Ushafa Forest before intercepting them.
- Authorities have launched a manhunt and urged residents to report suspicious activities.
The rescue operation, carried out in the early hours of Friday, also led to the safe recovery of all four hostages, while the suspects escaped into the surrounding forest.
Police said the kidnappers invaded the community at about 10:40 p.m. on Wednesday, abducting four residents after shooting two others.
FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the incident prompted the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, to immediately deploy operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, personnel from the Katampe and Mpape Divisions, and officers of the 24 Police Mobile Force Squadron to the area.
According to her, preliminary investigations showed that the attackers shot two victims before fleeing with four others through the Jikoko Hills towards the Ushafa Forest.
The injured victims were rushed to hospital, where one of them, identified simply as Mr. Babangida, died from his injuries. The second victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, is receiving treatment and is said to be responding positively.
Adeh said security operatives maintained a sustained pursuit of the kidnappers from the night of the attack until about 12:05 a.m. on Friday when they intercepted the gang around Jikoko Hills while they were moving the hostages towards the Ushafa Forest.
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“On sighting the advancing operatives, the kidnappers opened fire, engaging the police team in a fierce exchange of gunfire. The operatives responded effectively, forcing the suspects to abandon the hostages and flee deeper into the surrounding hills and forest,” she said.
She added that all four victims were rescued unharmed, evacuated from the forest and reunited with their families.
The police spokesperson said a manhunt had been launched to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Commissioner of Police Sanusi assured residents that the Command remained committed to tracking down those responsible for the attack and bringing them to justice.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the FCT Police Command’s emergency lines.
