The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has rescued a 36-year-old woman identified as Grace Aniekuoku, an indigene of Anambra State, who was allegedly chained and locked inside a room by her brother, Chinedu Aniekuoko, for over 16 months.
In a video seen by THE WHISTLER, Grace, dressed in a black top and red skirt with her hair shabbily covered with a black nylon, had her legs bound with rusted chains, in an airtight room.
The room with white tiles, though covered with sand and dirts, had pieces of shredded bed foams litered over the room .
Providing details, Sanusi said the command had received a distress report indicating that Grace was locked.
He said, “On the 12th of June 2026, the Command received a distress report indicating that a woman identified as Ms Grace Aniekuoku, a 36-year-old indigene of Anambra state, was held captive under chains and lock in a room by her brother, one Mr Chinedu Aniekuoko, for over one year and four months.”
“Upon receipt of the report, I immediately dispatched a team of detectives from Katampe Division to the scene. Upon their arrival, the suspect (Chinedu Aniekuoko) was hostile and resisted the officers, refusing them access to the premises where he had confined his sister.
“This did not deter the Police officers who gained forceful entry into the room, and discovered the victim in chains, in an extremely emaciated condition and in her own physical waste under very poor sanitary conditions.”
Sanusi noted that Chinedu was arrested at the scene and evacuated the victim to a hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment.
He continued, “Mr Chinedu was promptly arrested, while the victim was rescued and rushed to the hospital by the Police, where she is currently receiving medical attention.”
“Investigators subsequently uncovered circumstances surrounding the woman’s prolonged confinement.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects had forcefully taken away the victim’s son to an unknown location about two years ago, and subsequently kept his sister in confinement to prevent her from raising questions regarding the whereabouts of her child.
“While Ms Grace continues to receive medical treatment, efforts are ongoing to trace and rescue her missing son. The suspect remains in Police custody and will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations.”
In a separate operation targeting criminal networks operating around the FCT, police arrested four suspected kidnappers and bandits during a follow-up raid in the Paze-Byazhin area.
Sanusi said the operation followed an earlier anti-kidnapping mission conducted on June 9, 2026.
“Following a recent anti-kidnapping and rescue operation I led on the 9th of June, 2026, in Paze – Byazhin area of the FCT, a follow-up operation was conducted on the 11th of June 2026.”
Sanusi said operatives stormed a suspected banditry and kidnapping hideout and arrested Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, Hauwa Shafiu and Shamsudeen Mustapha.
According to him: “Where we stormed a suspected banditry and kidnapping hideout within the same area and arrested four (4) suspects identified as: Yahaya Abdullahi, Muhammed Yunusa, Hauwa Shafiu and Shamsudeen Mustapha.”
Preliminary investigations linked the suspects to a criminal network allegedly involved in kidnapping and banditry operations within and around the Federal Capital Territory.
Police investigations further revealed that members of the group allegedly integrated into local communities to gather intelligence and coordinate attacks on intended targets.
One of the suspects, Hauwa Shafiu, reportedly played a support role for the gang by supplying logistics and preparing meals for members of the group and their captives.
Sanusi disclosed that the suspect was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest and later gave birth while in police custody.
He said, “One of the suspects, Hauwa Shafiu, who operates as a logistics supplier and cook for the criminal gang and their hostages, was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest and subsequently delivered a healthy baby while in Police custody.
“Adequate medical attention was provided to both mother and child.”
The police recovered four motorcycles, 31 tablets of 500mg tramadol, 10 tablets of 50mg tramadol, N320,000 cash, five mobile phones, a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, cooking utensils, chains and padlocks during the operation.
The command said investigations into both cases remain ongoing and assured residents that suspects found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
