Residents of the Federal Capital Territory can breathe a sigh of relief following a daring operation by the FCT Police Command, which foiled an armed gang’s attempt to unleash another round of terror in the nation’s capital.
The operation, carried out on September 9, 2025, by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, was the culmination of weeks of intelligence gathering. It targeted a criminal syndicate responsible for the June 23, 2025, armed attack at Zone E Extension, Apo Resettlement.
Acting on credible intelligence, police traced the movements of the gang, which had been operating from the forests of Nasarawa before slipping into the FCT through the Karshi axis. Intelligence suggested they were plotting another deadly raid.
Determined to stop them in their tracks, the operatives pursued the suspects to a notorious hideout at Kurape Hills. It was there that the confrontation unfolded, in what eyewitnesses described as a tense and prolonged exchange of gunfire.
Upon sighting the security team, the gang members opened fire in a desperate bid to escape. But the police stood their ground, engaging them in a fierce gun battle that lasted several minutes.
In the end, the gang’s leader, identified as Umar Manu, popularly known as “Small,” was neutralized. Other members of the gang fled into the surrounding terrain, with investigators suspecting they carried away gunshot wounds.
From the scene, police recovered a deadly cache of arms: an AK-49 rifle with breech number A529, another AK-47 rifle with its breech number defaced, a second AK-49 rifle with erased markings, three magazines, and eleven rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition.
While the operation was successful, it did not come without risk. The Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and one other officer sustained minor injuries during the crossfire. Both were rushed to the hospital and have since been treated and discharged.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao S. Adewale, psc, mnips, hailed the operation as a testament to the bravery and professionalism of his men. He emphasized that the Command will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of residents.
In a stern warning, CP Adewale declared that any criminal who dares to challenge the authority of the police in the FCT would be met with the same fate as the neutralized gang leader. His words echoed the Command’s uncompromising stance on violent crime.
He further appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. In particular, he urged healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinics to immediately notify the police if individuals with bullet wounds or unexplained injuries seek treatment.
“Such collaboration is vital to preventing criminals from slipping under the radar,” the Commissioner stressed, underscoring the importance of community support in the fight against crime.
The police have since intensified surveillance across FCT borders, with special attention to entry points from neighboring states, especially forested areas notorious for sheltering criminal gangs.
Residents of Apo Resettlement, who had been living in fear since the June incident, welcomed the news with relief. Many described the police operation as a reassurance that the security forces are determined to keep the capital city safe.
The FCT Command has urged the public to continue using its emergency hotlines—08032003913 and 08028940883—to report suspicious movements promptly.
