Police arrest seven kidnappers, recover decomposing body of female victim in Abuja forest

Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department, Special Tactical Squad, in collaboration with vigilante operatives and other security agencies, have arrested seven suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate operating in the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State.

The police said the operation also led to the recovery of the remains of Miss Oluwadamilola Adedayo from the gang’s camp in Tukuba Forest, Kuje, Abuja, on October 19, 2026.

The victim was abducted alongside her mother, Mrs Nancy Adedayo, her 12-year-old brother, David Adedayo, and their housemaid, Jennifer David, during a gunpoint operation at their residence on Adedayo Adeosun Street, Kuchiyako, Kuje, on August 23, 2026.

According to the police, the kidnappers released the victim’s mother about an hour after the abduction to arrange ransom payment, while the housemaid and the 12-year-old boy were assaulted and abandoned unconscious in a forest.

They later regained consciousness and found their way home.

Addressing journalists on Friday in Abuja, the Commander of the STS, ACP Godfrey Victor, said two suspects were first arrested in Rijana community, Kaduna State, while five others were subsequently apprehended in Sagbon Lugbe, Abuja, through a joint operation involving the police, vigilante operatives and other security agencies.

“Following the receipt of a petition endorsed by the Inspector-General of Police’s Secretariat on 15th October 2026, operatives of FID-STS commenced an intelligence-led investigation that resulted in the arrest of two members of the Syndicate at Rijana Community, Kaduna State,Five additional members were subsequently arrested at Sagbon Lugbe, FCT, Abuja, through the joint efforts of FID-STS operatives, vigilante operatives and other security agencies,” he said.

"On 19th October 2026, operatives led by ACP Victor Ogbiede Godfrey proceeded to the gang’s camp at Tukuba Forest, Kuje, FCT, where the decomposing body of Miss Oluwadamilola Adedayo was recovered.

He said the family paid N16.2m for the release of the abducted children, but the suspects allegedly demanded an additional N50m before releasing Oluwadamilola.

Godfrey identified the suspects as Ishaka Abdullahi, 27, also known as Langalanga; Abdullahi Dabo, 42; Abubakar Jibrin, 20, also known as Mai-Laya; Barahu Ibrahim, 24, also known as Black; Sani Mohammed, 24; Alidu Lawal, 18, also known as De Jaguar; and Yakubu Abubakar, 28, also known as Soldier.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects are: Four AK-47 rifles, one locally made revolver pistol, 63 rounds of live ammunition, a mobile phone allegedly used for ransom negotiations, N400,000 and a motorcycle, ” he said.

Godfrey added that investigations linked the syndicate to the abduction of a businessman, John Ali, in Kuje on September 24.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the commander said investigation had revealed that then victim was murdered after resisting an attempt to sexually assault her.

The father of the murdered victim, who expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police and the operatives involved in the investigation, called for justice for his daughter.

“The kidnapping and murder of our beloved daughter, Oluwadamilola, at this time has left our family in deep pain. However, the support and assurance from the leadership of the police force has given us strength and hope that justice will prevail,” he said. 

“We continue to appeal to the police, with the help of Almighty God, to get to the root of this matter and ensure that all those responsible for this wicked act are brought to book.”