An intelligence report from the Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that operatives intercepted a phone call between kidnappers in Karu, a community near Abuja, and the Kabusa area in the Federal Capital Territory, where they were planning an operation.

The intelligence report sent to SaharaReporters by a military source attached to the intelligence unit, noted that the kidnapping operation was “scheduled to come in on Tuesday or January 17, 2024.”

The report is titled, “Plan by armed bandits to attack yet-to-be-identified location around the FCT, Abuja.”

“Intelligence at the disposal of the Unit disclosed that on 15th January, 2024 at 1956hrs, a suspected kidnapper located at Karu, Abuja (Lat: 9.3150 Long: 7.6149) called an associate suspected to be an informant located at Kabusa Abuja (Lat: 89792 Long: 7.3480). In the course of their conversation, the suspected kidnapper enquired about the house they are planning to attack.

“The suspected informant sought for clarification and asked whether it’s the house they attacked recently but the suspected kidnapper explained that he is referring to the house they intend to attack, because he has invited other members of the gang for the operation and they assured him of coming in tomorrow or a day after,” the report said.

“Due to the lofty proceeds amassed from kidnapping operation in and around the FCT Abuja, several kidnapping syndicates have turned their gaze to Abuja and continued to unleash terror to residents, especially in the suburbs of Abuja.

“The kidnapping syndicates are being invited to the FCT by their informants who basically reside in the communities. The infiltration of kidnapping elements to FCT has been on a rise since the last quarter of 2023 and it requires adequate and urgent action to curb the menace. From the above conversation, the suspected kidnapper and associates recently attacked a yet-to-be identified area around the FCT and are still planning to carry out another operation suspected to be kidnapping at an undisclosed location around the FCT, as other gang members invited for the operation are scheduled to come in today 16th January or tomorrow 17th January, 2024.

“Recommendation; In light of the above, while the Unit sustains watch on the criminal element to ascertain the exact area they intend to attack and the actual date, it is recommended that;

“i. The FCT Police Command as well as other tactical teams (DFI-IRT, DFI-STS etc) be informed and directed to raise a dedicated team with a view to clamping on the armed bandits infiltrating the FCT, particularly around the locations recently attacked by bandits.

“ii. The Command/tactical teams may also liaise with the Unit for analysis on the suspected informant’s contact number for possible arrest. Above is respectfully forwarded for the information and further actions.”