Police rescue foreigner from kidnappers in Abuja IDP camp
Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have rescued a Burkina Faso national, Sambo Labibo, from a notorious kidnap syndicate operating within the Durumi Internally Displaced Persons camp in Abuja.
Labibo was abducted on March 14, 2025, and his captors demanded a ₦15 million ransom from his associate.
In a statement on Wednesday, FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said officers from the Durumi Divisional Headquarters launched a tactical operation after receiving a distress report on March 18.
She explained that the police, in collaboration with the victim’s associate, set a trap for the kidnappers, leading to their arrest as they arrived at the designated ransom collection point.
“The relentless efforts of the FCT Police Command in combating crime and ensuring the safety of residents have once again yielded results.
“In a well-coordinated operation, operatives from the Durumi Division rescued Sambo Umar Labibo from the clutches of a notorious kidnap syndicate,” Adeh stated.
She identified the arrested suspects as Ibrahim Umar, Hamza Buba, Muktar Mohammed, Masaud Abdullahi, and Moses Idoko, described as the gang’s “medical director,” responsible for treating both captives and gang members.
Adeh added that after their arrest, the suspects led the police to their hideout in the Durumi IDP camp, where Labibo was found and rescued unharmed.
She said efforts were ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate.
