The Nigeria Police Force has shared a video showing how they took down a suspected kidnapping gang that had been terrorizing communities near the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa.
In a post with the video on its official X account on Saturday, the Force said its operatives from the Force Intelligence Department, Special Tactical Squad tracked the gang during an operation called Operation Gbagalape.
The police reported that the operation led to the arrest of suspected gang members, the discovery of their hideout, the rescue of victims, and the recovery of evidence related to their crimes.
The police called the operation a significant success in the fight against kidnapping in the region.
In the video, the Commander of the FID-STS, Assistant Commissioner of Police Godfrey Victor, explained that the operation came after a deadly attack on Badalapé community on May 16, 2026.
He said armed kidnappers invaded the area, abducted several residents, and killed at least three people during the attack.
"I am Assistant Commissioner of Police Godfrey Obeide Victor, Commander, STS FID Abuja. This is a case of banditry and kidnapping," he said.
Describing the incident, Victor said, "On the 16th of May 2026, in the community of Badalapé, a border community that borders Nasarawa and the FCT, a group of five kidnappers went to houses."
He added that the gang damaged a CCTV camera at one house before abducting a resident named Elijah.
"They broke into the house, damaged the front camera and abducted one Elijah. Elijah was abducted⊠and it is interesting to know that that person never made it back alive again. So he was murdered," he said.
Victor noted that the gang also took a pastor, who was later killed, while another civil servant survived after being shot.
"They kidnapped a pastor⊠the pastor was kidnapped and also he was murdered. One civil servant was equally picked by the kidnappers when he was returning from work. He was shot at, but thank God he survived," Victor said.
He explained that intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and digital analysis helped operatives identify gang members.
"So we conducted our intelligence, carried out area surveillance and digital analysis, and we were able to identify those responsible.
"I personally led the operation and one of them was arrested. He gave useful information which led us to another key member who was receiving treatment at a district hospital," he said.
Victor shared that coordinated operations from June 24 to June 26 in Badalapé, Mararaba, and Abuja led to the arrest of two suspected gang members, Buhari Adamu and Abubakar Saido.
He said further investigations took operatives to the gangâs forest hideout, where they found more evidence of the killings.
"We also wanted to know why they killed those victims. We were told that one of the suspects accidentally shot himself in the leg while guarding the captives. Angered by that incident, the other members killed all the victims and threw their bodies into a nearby stream," he said.
The police commander also mentioned that investigators traced the money from the kidnappings to buying livestock.
"What they do with the proceeds of this crime is buy cows and sheep. So far, we have recovered 14 cows and three sheep," he said.
While he noted that they are still trying to catch other members of the gang who are on the run, Victor assured Nigerians that the police have identified the suspects and are committed to bringing them to justice.
"We have profiled them, we know them and we know how to get them as soon as possible.
"There is no hiding place for criminals. Crime does not pay. STS will fetch you out," he said.
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