Juliet Jacob 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Police in the Federal Capital Territory halted a major kidnapping attempt in the early hours of Thursday after a fierce gun battle with suspected bandits in Guto village, a border community in Bwari Area Council. The confrontation left one police officer dead and at least two attackers neutralised.
According to a statement released by the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the incident began around 1:10 a.m. when more than 30 armed men stormed a residential compound and tried to abduct a resident and his family. A distress call from community members triggered a rapid deployment of operatives from the Bwari Division and the Inspector-General of Police Special Intervention Squad.
Adeh said the attackers immediately opened fire upon sighting the officers, sparking a prolonged exchange of gunshots. The operatives, she noted, “engaged the criminal gang in a sustained battle,” successfully stopping the abduction.
Two members of the gang were reportedly gunned down, while the others escaped into surrounding hills and bushes.
The operation, however, came with a devastating loss for the Command. One officer sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange and was rushed to Bwari General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, has ordered the deployment of additional personnel to the area and launched an intensive manhunt for the fleeing suspects. He assured residents that security has been reinforced and investigations are underway.
Authorities say the attack underscores the increasing boldness of armed criminal groups around Abuja and the heightened efforts by security agencies to disrupt their activities and protect vulnerable communities.
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Mirian Gom 
Oluwatobi Adu 