Police officers clashed with suspected armed kidnappers in a shootout in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, killing many of them, an official announced.
The leader of the armed group, Musa Wada, was one of those killed in Friday’s shooting, police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi wrote in a statement Saturday.
Adejobi said the armed bandits engaged the police officers in a gunfight that lasted about 30 minutes in the Mpape area of ​​Abuja.
He said the kidnappers were located and neutralized by the Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force – Intelligence Response Team (FIB-IRT), acting on solid information.
Some members of the gang were brutally wounded by gunshots during the battle, while a police officer also suffered gunshot wounds.
Police said the kidnappers’ camp was destroyed during the operation.
Friday’s shooting came a day after another suspected kidnapper, Abubakar Wada, who was said to be an associate of Musa Wada, was killed in another shooting.
Abuja has seen several cases of kidnappings in recent weeks, prompting calls to improve security in the Nigerian capital.
Read the full police statement below.
PRESS RELEASE
POLICE NEUTRALIZES WANTED KNOWN KIDNAPPERS AND DESTROY CAMPS IN MPAPE
In the early hours of February 9, 2024, at around 2.40 am, operatives of the Nigerian Police Force Intelligence Bureau – Intelligence Response Team (FIB-IRT), acting on intelligence, attacked, neutralized and They successfully eliminated many notorious kidnappers, including the identified kidnapping kingpin. as Musa Wada (Sabo) Magaji, in an operation carried out around Mpape, Abuja. The team also destroyed the camps of the dreaded kidnappers who have been a thorn in the flesh of Abuja residents in recent times.
The armed bandits engaged the police officers in a gunfight that lasted about 30 minutes, in which many of the bandits were fatally wounded, while one of the police officers suffered gunshot wounds.
This significant achievement came immediately after the neutralization of Abubakar Wada, an associate of Musa Wada, on February 8, 2024, who served as a guide to reach his hideout. Musa Wada, also known as Sabo, was the mastermind behind numerous kidnappings for ransom activities that devastated areas such as Mpape and Bwari in the FCT; Kagarko in Kaduna; Masaka and Nukun village in Nasarawa State. His modus operandi involved identifying wealthy targets and mobilizing armed gangs to carry out kidnappings for ransom.
The successful raid on their hideout, situated on the outskirts of Mpape Hills, was carried out by the brave men of the FIB-IRT through a surprise assault, which resulted in the elimination of these notorious criminals. Additionally, items recovered from the hideout include mobile phones, multiple SIM cards, amulets and hard drugs, which are crucial evidence that helps in the ongoing investigations. Efforts are being made to recover additional weapons, ammunition and other equipment that they use for their nefarious operations.
The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety of all citizens, and will continue to employ proactive measures to dismantle criminal networks and bring perpetrators of heinous crimes to justice, against all odds.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA
February 10, 2024
This comes third this week, police also killed the leader of a group of kidnappers terrorizing Abuja on Monday.
On February 5, 2024, DFI-IRT agents obtained information about the hideout of the famous bandit group led by Isa Dei-Dei. They were tracked to the FCT suburb and immediately proceeded to the location for possible arrest. Adejobi said on Friday.
He said that the bandit, upon seeing the police, fled towards the mountains. He said police officers chased them while a gun duel took place between them. Consequently, the gang’s leader, Isa Dei-Dei, died in the process, while others escaped with serious gunshot wounds.
The police also encouraged the public to be vigilant and report anyone demanding treatment for gunshot wounds at any hospital in the city.
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Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, witnessed a wave of criminal attacks in the early hours of January, ranging from kidnappings and others. Following these attacks by kidnappers and bandits in the FCT, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in order to reduce insecurity, launched a Special Intervention Squad (SIS) in the FCT to deal with the growing insurgency.
The new Commissioner of Police of the FCT, Bennett Igweh, upon assuming office on Friday, February 2, also tasked the heads of the tactical units of the FCT Police command to fish out every black spot and den of kidnappers in the territory and bring Fight them as soon as possible.