Police kill notorious Abuja bandit

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have killed a notorious bandit, Isa Dei-Dei, in Abuja, after storming the hideout of a bandit group in the suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.

The operation was said to have been carried out by policemen attached to the Department of Force Intelligence of the Intelligence Response Team.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the development in a statement Wednesday.

Adejobi  noted that while only Dei-Dei was neutralised, some other members of the gang who escaped were shot during the gun duel, and sustained bullet injuries.

The statement read, “At about 10:15 am on February 5, 2024, operatives of the DFI-IRT, acting on intelligence, got information on the hideout of a notorious bandit group led by one Isa Dei-Dei, in the suburb of the FCT, and immediately proceeded to the location for possible arrests.

“Upon closing in on them, they (bandits) sighted the police and fled. The operatives immediately went after them, which led to a fierce gun duel. In the process, the notorious Isa Dei-Dei was neutralised while other members of the syndicate managed to escape with gunshot injuries.

“We therefore urge members of the public, most especially medical practitioners, to call our attention to anyone or patients seen with gunshot wounds for further investigation.”

Since the commencement of the year, the Federal Capital Territory has experienced a concerning surge in kidnapping incidents.

These incidents have caused apprehension among residents of the territory.

On February 1, 2024, the latest abduction in the nation's capital took place in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, involving two teenage sisters.

Also, police operatives from the FCT Command had earlier arrested a 20-year-old kidnap kingpin, Buhari Muhammad, and five others in a hotel in Abuja.

The suspects who were arrested following intelligence on their activities were said to have kidnapped one Joshua Eze.

Eze who was abducted on January 27 was subsequently rescued unhurt by police operatives of the command on January 28, 2024.

Announcing the arrest of the suspects in a statement on Monday, the FCT command's spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, stated that one AK-47 and N350,000 were recovered from the suspects.