A joint operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, Army, and Department of State Services (DSS) has dismantled a notorious kidnapping syndicate along the Abuja–Kaduna corridor, rescuing seven abducted victims after a fierce gun battle in a forest camp spanning Ushafa (FCT) and Kagarko LGA (Kaduna State).

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the breakthrough in a statement Monday, describing it as a major success in ongoing counter-kidnapping operations.

The raid followed a December 5 midnight attack in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, where gunmen stormed a residential estate and abducted several residents. Acting on a distress call, the FCT Anti-Kidnapping Squad, supported by troops from the Guards Brigade and DSS operatives, launched a pursuit.

“Credible intelligence led the team through Mpape hills and deep into thick forests stretching towards Kagarko,” Adeh said. “On sighting the joint team on December 6, the kidnappers opened fire with automatic rifles. The operatives responded overwhelmingly, neutralising the threat and storming the camp.”

Inside the camp, security forces discovered seven victims — five men and two women — chained inside makeshift tents. One victim had been held for 12 days. All were evacuated to hospital for medical checks and psychological debriefing before reunification with families.

While no arrests were made, police reported that the gunmen fled with gunshot wounds. Recovered items included AK-47 rifles, magazines, charms, and mobile phones believed to belong to victims.

The FCT Command praised the synergy among security agencies and vowed to sustain aggressive patrols along the Abuja-Kaduna axis, which has recorded over 200 abductions in 2025 alone.

Residents of Ushafa and neighbouring Dei-Dei welcomed the rescue but urged authorities to establish a permanent military presence, warning that bandits still lurk in surrounding hills.

Security observers note that the Abuja-Kaduna corridor remains one of Nigeria’s most dangerous kidnapping hotspots, with syndicates exploiting rugged terrain and weak surveillance to stage raids. The latest rescue underscores both the scale of the challenge and the importance of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations.