The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recorded a major victory in its fight against banditry and kidnapping, following the neutralization of three notorious bandits, including a wanted gang leader, Abdullahi Umar, popularly known as ‘Duna’, and two of his lieutenants.
The two others killed alongside Duna were identified as Buba Ahmadi, alias Killer, and Habi Sule, alias Mai-Kudi.
The Commissioner of Police for the FCT, CP Ajao S. Adewale, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the command headquarters in Abuja on Friday, September 19, 2025.
He explained that the operation was part of an ongoing joint security effort to rid the FCT and its surrounding communities of criminal elements, especially those involved in kidnapping and armed banditry.
According to the CP, the police first received a report on September 15, 2025, of a bandit attack on Kpobi and Kpaduma 3 villages in the Guzape area of Abuja.
During that attack, two local vigilante members were shot. One of them, identified as Bako Pwaza, later died at the National Hospital, Abuja.
CP Adewale said the bandits had attempted to kidnap two young women during the raid, but the quick response of a coordinated security team prevented the abduction.
He noted that the rescue was carried out by a team led by himself, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), the Rapid Response Squad, and other units. The victims were safely rescued and are now receiving support.
Just two days later, on September 17, the same gang struck again, this time in Karu, where they kidnapped one Nafiu Idris, a staff of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) under the Department of Urban Affairs.
CP Adewale said the command responded swiftly by activating its Anti-Kidnapping Unit, which worked alongside the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), local hunters, and vigilante groups to track the criminals.
Their coordinated operation led the team to the Zinda Forest, located behind the Nigerian Army Estate in Kurudu, near the border between the FCT and Nasarawa State.
On September 18, the security team stormed the bandits’ hideout in Zinda Forest. A fierce gun battle ensued.
“Our team overpowered them. Three of the notorious criminals, including their wanted leader, Abdullahi Umar aka ‘Duna’, and his lieutenants, Buba Ahmadi aka ‘Killer’, and Habi Sule aka ‘Mai-Kudi’, were neutralized,” CP Adewale announced.
He said the gang had been terrorizing residents of the FCT and neighbouring Nasarawa State for months.
Weapons Recovered
The police recovered the following items from the bandits:
Two AK-49 rifles (with serial numbers 1983 NK 2202 and 1975 SW0924)
Two magazines loaded with seven rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition
Two Itel phones
Several ATM cards
Other personal items believed to belong to kidnap victims
The Commissioner revealed that preliminary investigations showed the gang was behind multiple kidnapping incidents in Karu, Guzape, Kpobi, Army Estate Kurudu, and several communities in Nasarawa State.
He described the neutralized gang leader, Duna, as a “notorious criminal” who had long been on the command’s wanted list for high-profile abductions and violent crimes.
CP Adewale reassured residents of Abuja that the police, in collaboration with the military and other security agencies, would continue to hunt down criminals threatening the peace of the FCT.
“We remain committed to protecting lives and property. This operation is a warning to all criminals: there is no hiding place for you in Abuja,” he declared.
He also encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines.
The successful operation has been widely praised by community leaders and residents, many of whom have been living in fear due to rising cases of kidnapping and rural attacks around Abuja’s outskirts.
