The Special Intervention Squad (SIS) of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command said it has neutralised a notorious bandit gang operating in the Abuja forest.
The mission, executed in the early hours of Friday, January 26, resulted in the elimination of three prominent criminals, including the gang leader known as Mai Gemu, widely recognized as Godara.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force public relations officer, announced the successful mission during the parade of about 20 criminal suspects arrested for various offenses across the country in Abuja on Friday.
“Mai Gemu, a wanted kidnap kingpin, had been terrorizing the FCT and neighboring states alongside his gang members. The Special Intervention Squad, established under the command of Inspector General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun, carried out the operation, demonstrating a commitment to fortifying the security landscape in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The SIS, in the early hours of Friday, neutralizes one of the most wanted kidnap kingpins, Mai Gemu aka Godara, and two other members of his gang in an exchange of gunfire in the Bwari area of Abuja in a forest linking Abuja with Kaduna State”, he stated.
The Special Intervention Squad had strategically taken control of a major route in Usafa, Bwari Area Council, commonly used by bandits to transport their victims out of Abuja into neighboring states of Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi.
Confirming the success of the operation, Bennett Igwe, FCT SIS Commander and Commissioner of Police, explained that the squad had focused efforts on securing crucial routes exploited by bandits for criminal activities.
“This move aimed to disrupt their operations and enhance the overall security situation in the region”, Igwe said.
The Federal Capital Territory has witnessed a concerning surge in insecurity, prompting heightened concerns among residents and authorities.
The capital city, once considered relatively immune, is now grappling with an escalating wave of criminal activities, particularly kidnappings.
Notable among recent incidents is the abduction of 23 persons, including members of the Al-Kadriyar and Ariyo families on January 2, 2024, in the Bwari Area Council.
The successful neutralization of Mai Gemu’s gang is seen as a crucial step towards restoring security and peace in the FCT, underlining the effectiveness of the recently launched Special Intervention Squad led by Olukayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police.
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