Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested six suspected members of a kidnapping and "one chance" robbery syndicate and recovered N8.25 million allegedly paid as ransom for the release of a female victim abducted in Abuja.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, announced the arrests during a press briefing on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, while providing an update on the command's ongoing anti-crime operations.

According to the police commissioner, detectives from the Command's Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) launched an investigation after receiving a distress report on June 29 that a young woman had been abducted in the Maitama area of Abuja.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded N20 million for the victim's release but later accepted N8.25 million before releasing her on July 3.

Police said digital tracking traced the victim's location to Kwan-Kwashe Village in neighbouring Niger State. Surveillance continued after her release, leading to the arrest of six suspects in Suleja on July 5.

The suspects were identified as Ifeoma Nnamchi, 35, alleged to be the leader of the syndicate; Peter Rasheed Onwunumah, 40; Olanipekun Anuoluwa, 46; Jemimah Monday, 25; Gabriel Nnamchi, 14; and Stanley Nnamchi, 17.

Items recovered during the operation include the N8.25 million ransom, two vehicles—a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Camry—a cutlass, seven pairs of AirPods, assorted jewellery suspected to have been stolen from previous victims, five mobile phones and a laptop.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that Ifeoma Nnamchi and Olanipekun Anuoluwa had previously been arrested by the FCT Police Command in 2022 and 2019, respectively, over similar offences.

According to the police, the syndicate had been operating along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing Road and other parts of the FCT since 2024.

Investigators also alleged that the suspects admitted carrying out several "one chance" operations and, in their most recent activities, kidnapped and robbed five female victims, collecting a total of N12.8 million in ransom.

The suspects remain in police custody and will be charged in court after investigations are concluded, the police said.