Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have foiled a planned kidnapping and armed attack by suspected bandits in the Byazhin Forest area of Abuja, recovering an AK-47 rifle and rounds of ammunition during the operation.
The Command said the raid was part of efforts to tackle the recent rise in banditry and abductions around border communities in the FCT, especially in Bwari, Kuje, and Gwagwalada councils, where security agencies have stepped up patrols.
According to a statement by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, on Tuesday, the operation was launched after credible intelligence from the Force Headquarters’ Technical Intelligence Unit revealed that a notorious bandit leader, identified as Idrisa, also known as “Mai Duna,” had concluded plans to launch simultaneous attacks on selected villages around the Byazhin forest axis.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence report, on 10th October 2025, at about 9:00 p.m., the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed tactical teams to mount an ambush along the suspected routes of the criminals,” the statement read.
At about 1:00 a.m. on October 11, operatives reportedly intercepted two groups of armed bandits advancing toward the area, leading to a gun battle that lasted about twenty minutes.
The police said the attackers were subdued and forced to retreat into the forest with gunshot wounds.
“Following the encounter, reinforcement was promptly deployed from nearby Police and Military formations, while additional police units secured the general area and blocked potential escape routes. A thorough search of the scene led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with a defaced serial number, one magazine, and thirty rounds of live 7.6mm ammunition,” the statement added.
Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, commended the operatives for their bravery and quick response, noting that their action prevented what could have been a major security breach within the capital territory.
“He further directed all medical facilities within the FCT and adjoining states to be on alert and report any person found with gunshot wounds to the nearest police formation immediately,” she added.
The FCT, which houses the nation’s seat of power, has recently faced growing security threats.
In response, the FCT Police Command has intensified joint operations with the military and local vigilante groups to dismantle criminal hideouts in forested areas bordering Abuja and Niger State.
The success of the Byazhin operation is expected to boost public confidence and reassure residents in rural parts of the FCT of the police’s commitment to their safety.
