Seven Suspected Kidnappers Arrested After Killing Abuja Victim

The police say seven suspected kidnappers took four family members in Abuja. They collected N16.2 million ransom for the release of one victim and then demanded an extra N50 million before killing her.

Victor Godfrey, the commander of the Force Intelligence Department, Special Tactical Squad, shared this news with reporters on Friday. He spoke while parading the suspects in front of the deceased's family.

Mr Godfrey, an assistant commissioner of police, said the victim, Oluwadamilola Adedayo, who was just 14 years old, was killed after she fought back against her abductors who tried to sexually assault her.

Oluwadamilola was kidnapped along with her mother, Nancy, her 12-year-old brother, David, and their housemaid, Jennifer David, at gunpoint on 23 August.

Her decomposing body was found in a forest in Tukuba, Kuje, Abuja, on 19 October. This was after police acted on intelligence information from the Force Intelligence Department.

Twelve-year-old David told how the kidnappers burst into their home at midnight. They took the family into the forest and held them hostage in the mountains.

David said Jennifer fainted while they were walking and was thrown into a stream. The kidnappers covered her with leaves, thinking she was dead.

The police said Jennifer survived and managed to find her way back home. David shared that his sister was killed after she injured one of the kidnappers.

"She now cut the hand of one of them. Then, from there, they got angry. They beat her. They threw rocks at her. Unfortunately, she died. They threw her off the cliff, and nobody can survive that kind of fall," he said.

One of the suspects, Alidu Lawal, 18, told reporters that the deceased attacked him with a cutlass and showed the wound on his right wrist. Mr Lawal denied any member of his gang tried to sexually assault Oluwadamilola.

David said he was later tied to a tree by the kidnappers.

"They tied me to a tree, saying that they want to go and buy coke, but they will soon come back. So, I managed to untie myself from the tree," he said.

After escaping, David climbed down the mountain and spent the night near a stream. The next day, he met a Fulani herdsman and kept saying, "Kuje, Kuje."

The herdsman took him to some hunters, who brought him to a village chief. Vigilantes then took him to a hospital in Danfara, Kuje, where his uncles found him.

The police commander said David escaped before any ransom was paid. His family did not know that their daughter had been killed.

The victim’s father, Mr Adedoye, is seeking justice. He expressed gratitude to the Inspector General of Police and the officers involved in the case.

"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.

Mr Adedoye added, "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."

According to the police, the abduction took place on 23 August 2026 in Kuchiyako, Kuje. Oluwadamilola's mother was released about an hour after the kidnapping to help manage the ransom.

The family paid N16.2 million to free their children, but the kidnappers then asked for another N50 million. Mr Godfrey, the police commander, did not say if any more payment was made.

The police commander said investigations linked the same gang to another kidnapping. This involved a businessman, John Ali, in Kuje on 24 September.

Mr Ali, who comes from Benue State, was set free after the kidnappers took N3 million and recharge cards worth N100,000.

The suspects were arrested after the Inspector-General of Police’s Secretariat approved a petition on 15 October. This led to an intelligence-led investigation.

Two suspects were arrested in Rijana community, while five more were caught in Sagbon Lugbe, Abuja, through a joint operation with police, vigilantes, and other security agencies.

On 19 October, operatives, led by Mr Godfrey, searched the gang’s camp in Tukuba Forest. They found the decomposing body of Oluwadamilola.

Her remains were taken to a hospital mortuary for preservation and a possible autopsy, Mr Godfrey said. He named the other suspects as Ishaka Abdullahi, 27; Abdullahi Dabo, 42; Abubakar Jibrin, 20; Barahu Ibrahim, 24; Sani Mohammed, 24; and Yakubu Abubakar, 28.

Mr Godfrey said the suspects had four AK-47 rifles, a locally made revolver, 63 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, N400,000, and a mobile phone used for ransom talks.

"Investigation is ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional weapons," he said. He added that the IGP has assured that they will keep up strong actions against all crime in the country.

Mr Godfrey urged citizens to be alert and report any suspicious people or activities to the nearest police station. He promised that such operations will continue across all states in Nigeria.