“We Brought the War to Them”: CP Sanusi Leads Frontline Operation as FCT Police Rescue Kidnap Victims, Neutralise Suspects in Byazhin

The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Sanusi, has provided fresh details on the successful rescue of kidnap victims in Byazhin, revealing that the operation was the result of days of surveillance, intelligence gathering and a deliberate strategy to confront criminal elements head-on.

Speaking after the operation, Sanusi said police operatives had received credible intelligence indicating that kidnappers frequently used the area as a transit route for victims abducted within Abuja before moving them into neighbouring Kaduna State.

Determined to break the cycle, officers were deployed to the location several days before the encounter and maintained a constant presence while monitoring the activities of the criminal group.

According to the police commissioner, security personnel effectively turned the tables on the kidnappers by lying in wait for them rather than reacting after attacks had already been carried out.

“We brought the war to them,” Sanusi declared.

“We had proper intelligence that kidnappers had been operating through this area. We activated that intelligence and positioned ourselves here waiting for them. Yesterday, luck ran out on them.”

The operation culminated in a fierce encounter between the police team and the suspected kidnappers, resulting in the death of two suspects while others fled with gunshot wounds.

Sanusi disclosed that several members of the gang escaped during the gun battle but are believed to have sustained injuries, making it difficult for them to evade security forces for long.

“We neutralised two of them, apprehended others, while some escaped with bullet wounds,” he said.

Most importantly, all the victims being held by the kidnappers were rescued alive and unharmed.

“The victims were liberated. They were not taken away. We were able to rescue them successfully,” the commissioner added.

Sanusi further explained that the route where the operation took place serves as a strategic corridor frequently exploited by kidnappers transporting abductees from Abuja toward forests and hideouts in Kaduna State.

“As you can see, this route leads directly toward Kaduna. Once victims are picked up in Abuja, they are moved through this corridor and disguised among cattle movements before being taken deeper into their camps,” he said.

The commissioner also highlighted the importance of leadership from the front, noting that he personally remained with officers on the ground throughout the operation.

According to him, frontline leadership boosts morale and reinforces the confidence of personnel engaged in dangerous assignments.

“I am always happy being with my men in the field because it gives them morale and a sense of recognition,” he said.

“When they see me leading from the front, they are ready to live with me, fight with me, win with me, conquer with me and return safely with me.”

The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by the FCT Police Command to dismantle kidnapping networks operating around Abuja and adjoining states amid renewed security concerns across the region.

Security analysts say intelligence-led operations such as the Byazhin rescue mission could significantly disrupt criminal routes and improve public confidence in law enforcement efforts against kidnapping and violent crime.