The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly appeared in a viral video openly displaying assault rifles, ammunition and communication gadgets while dressed in military-style camouflage.
The suspects identified as Umar Babangida (25), Adamu Yeti (22) and Yahaya Idris (24), are said to be residents of Rijana in Kaduna State.
According to police authorities, the arrests followed the circulation of a video showing armed men flaunting weapons and projecting an image of impunity. The footage sparked public concern and prompted an immediate security response.
The Commissioner of Police for the FCT, CP Ahmed Sanusi, reportedly ordered a forensic investigation into the video’s origin and directed operatives to track down those involved. Through digital forensic analysis and intelligence gathering, investigators traced the suspects to a hideout in Runji Village, Zuba, on the outskirts of Abuja.
Security operatives subsequently carried out a coordinated early morning operation at about 3:22 a.m. on May 25, leading to the arrest of the three suspects without incident.
The development highlights the increasing role of digital intelligence and forensic technology in combating organised crime and kidnapping networks. Security experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of intelligence-led policing in addressing the growing threat of kidnapping and armed criminality across the country.
The arrests come amid persistent public concern over insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states, where communities have continued to face threats from kidnappers, bandits and other armed groups.
Police authorities are expected to continue investigations to determine whether the suspects are linked to broader criminal networks operating within the Abuja-Kaduna corridor and surrounding areas.
