Ogona Anita
A joint security operation involving the Federal Capital Territory Police Command and the military has rescued three kidnap victims that include a Naval Officer identified as Lt. Cynthia Akor and two other civilians.
The victims were kidnapped on March 21, 2025 at the Mpape suburb of the FCT when heavily armed gang attacked the Maman Vatsa Estate gate, blocked the major road leading to Mpape and opened fire on moving vehicles.
The daredevil kidnappers later contacted their families, demanding โฆ500 million for the naval officer and โฆ200 million each for the civilians.
In a statement confirming the rescue of the three victims, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh told journalists on Sunday that, โThe FCT Police Command, in collaboration with the military, has successfully rescued a kidnapped naval officer, along with two civilians, who were abducted by armed criminals in Mpape, Abuja, on March 21, 2025
โAt approximately 7:35 pm on the said date, heavily armed assailants attacked the Maman Vatsa Estate gate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire on moving vehicles before abducting the three victims.
โShortly after the attack, the kidnappers contacted the victimsโ families, demanding a ransom of โฆ500 million for the naval officer and โฆ200 million each for the two civilians.โ
According SP Adeh, โFollowing a distress call, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), DCP Isyaku Sharu, coordinated a rescue operation involving the Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the military, the Department of State Services, and local hunter
โUpon receiving the distress report, DCP Isyaku Sharu, in collaboration with military authorities, mobilised a joint operation led by the Police Commandโs Anti-Kidnapping Unit and comprising personnel of the Nigerian military, DSS, hunters, and members of the local Huntersโ Group.โ
โAn intense search-and-rescue operation was conducted across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Muโazu, and Yelwa Hills, covering areas in the FCT and Nasarawa State.โ
According to the Police Spokesperson, the joint security operatives acting on intelligence, security operatives stormed a Fulani resettlement in Anguwan Muโazu and Yelwa Hills between 2 am and 5:30 am on March 23, where four suspects were arrested, and the victims were rescued unharmed.
โActing on credible intelligence, between 2 am and 5:30 am on March 23, 2025, operatives traced the suspects to a Fulani resettlement in Anguwan Muโazu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State, where four suspects were arrested, and the victims were rescued unharmed.
โAdditionally, the sum of โฆ3.2 million, suspected to be ransom money from previous kidnapping outing.โ
The police spokesperson also revealed that additional security deployment has been effected to forestall further kidnapping in the affected area.
โSecurity deployments have also been reinforced in Mpape and surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences, as members of the public are advised to go about their daily activities without any apprehension,โ she stated.
SP Adeh also revealed that the rescued individuals were already receiving medical care at the Nigerian Army Clinic and are in stable condition
