The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recovered two FN FAL assault rifles and live ammunition during a raid on a suspected bandit hideout in Dajin Madam Forest, in what authorities describe as another major breakthrough in the campaign against kidnapping and organised crime.
The recovery followed intelligence obtained from one of four suspects earlier arrested for allegedly supplying arms, ammunition and illicit substances to bandits operating within and around the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the Police, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit carried out the operation on August 2 after interrogating one of the suspects, Musbahu Ishaq, whose information led investigators to the forest located between Plateau and Bauchi states.
Police investigations revealed that the forest served as one of the operational hideouts for a criminal syndicate linked to armed banditry.
The Command said preliminary findings indicate that Ishaq allegedly procured weapons and ammunition from one Rabiu Hassan before supplying them to a suspected bandit leader identified as Baba Alhaji Sanusi, who is currently on the run and believed to be hiding in a forest in Katsina State.
A search of the hideout resulted in the recovery of two FN FAL rifles and live ammunition concealed within the camp.
Crackdown on bandit logistics
The latest seizure comes as security agencies continue efforts to dismantle arms supply chains believed to be fueling kidnappings, banditry and other violent crimes across the North-Central region and the FCT.
The four suspects connected to the arms supply network had earlier been paraded by the FCT Police Command on July 11 following their arrest during separate intelligence-led operations.
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Police authorities said investigations are continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate, recover additional weapons linked to the network and ensure all those involved are prosecuted.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing, saying security operations would continue until every member of the criminal network is brought to justice.
He also appealed to residents of the FCT and neighbouring communities to support security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing operations against criminal groups.
The police maintained that public cooperation remains critical to dismantling armed criminal networks operating within forests and remote communities across the region.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.