One person has died after sustaining gunshot wounds during a violent kidnapping incident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), even as police operatives rescued four abducted residents following an overnight pursuit of the kidnappers through the rugged hills and forests on the outskirts of Abuja.
The deceased, identified simply as Mr. Babangida, was rushed to hospital alongside another victim after both sustained gunshot injuries. While Mr. Babangida later succumbed to his wounds, the second victim, who was shot in the leg, is receiving treatment and is said to be responding positively.
Determined to prevent the kidnappers from escaping, operatives of the FCT Police Command continued the manhunt long after the attackers disappeared into the surrounding hills. The pursuit lasted through the night and into the early hours of Friday, culminating in a decisive confrontation.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, security operatives tracked the kidnappers to Jikoko Hills at about 12:05 a.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, as they attempted to move their captives towards the Ushafa Forest.
“The operatives maintained relentless pursuit of the kidnappers from the night of the incident till Friday, 10th July, 2026, when they located the kidnappers at approximately 12:05 a.m. around Jikoko Hills heading towards Ushafa Forest with the hostages,” Adeh said.
She explained that the kidnappers opened fire immediately they sighted the advancing police team, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.
However, the police operatives overpowered the criminals with superior firepower and tactical precision, forcing the gang to abandon the hostages and flee deeper into the hills and adjoining forest in a desperate bid to evade arrest.
The four kidnapped residents were rescued unhurt, safely evacuated from the forest and reunited with their families shortly after the operation.
Although the kidnappers escaped the scene, the FCT Police Command said a coordinated manhunt is ongoing to apprehend every member of the criminal gang responsible for the attack.
Reaffirming the command’s commitment to combating violent crime, the Commissioner of Police vowed that those behind the kidnapping would be tracked down and brought to justice.
The police also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies by providing credible and timely intelligence on suspicious persons and activities, stressing that sustained security operations are underway across the Federal Capital Territory to dismantle criminal hideouts and restore public confidence.