Late on the night of October 8, 2025, a desperate call pierced the quiet of Abuja’s Life Camp. A terrified voice said she had been abducted and that her captors demanded one million naira for her release. The report landed at Life Camp Police Station and set off a chain of events in which four men were arrested, two victims rescued, and one person badly wounded.
The next morning, at about 4:30 a.m., police acting on digital and tactical intelligence cornered the suspects in Dape Village. A confrontation ensued. The officers rescued two victims. One of them, bleeding from multiple knife wounds, was rushed to Gwarinpa General Hospital, where he is now receiving treatment.
Police later named the arrested men as Solomon Tanko, Samuel Audu, Chigozie Joseph, and Emmanuel Chidiebere. Investigation revealed they had been running a “one-chance” robbery operation across Abuja’s Bannex and Kado areas. Their tactic was ruthless: they would flag down unsuspecting travelers, force them into a vehicle that looked official (with tinted windows to mislead), and rob or abduct them in a single swift move.
Records found in their possession tell a chilling story. Among their items were 15 international passports, two sharp daggers, two cutlasses, several bloodstained documents, four mobile phones, two hammers, and pens. According to police statements, the gang had already robbed six victims, both male and female, before their capture.
Authorities say the suspects will be charged in court once investigations wrap up. The FCT police command praised the Life Camp Division officers for their swift response and urged citizens to trust the police and report suspicious acts immediately. They also called on residents to stay vigilant and provided emergency hotlines for reporting crime.
Despite this arrest, many fear other gangs may still be active. For now, Abuja breathes a little easier — but the scars from one night’s terror linger.
Emmanuel Onwuka