A combined team of the police, military officers and local hunters have rescued a female Navy officer and two other civilians kidnapped by gunmen in Mpape, Abuja last Friday.
The gunmen at about 7.30pm had blocked the Maman Vatsa Estate gate, Mpape Road, and fired indiscriminately, in the process the Navy officer Lieutenant Cyntia Akor and the two civilians were adopted and driven away. The gunmen later contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦500 million for the naval officer and ₦200 million each for the two civilians.
According to a statement by the Abuja Police Command on Sunday, a team of police and military officers acting on intelligence traced the kidnappers to a hilly Fulani settlement in Nasarawa State.
“Upon receiving the distress report, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), FCT Police Command, DCP Isyaku Sharu, in collaboration with military authorities, mobilized a joint operation led by the Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit, along with personnel from the Nigerian military, Department of State Services (DSS), and local hunters’ groups.”
“Between 2:00 am and 5:30 am on March 23, 2025, operatives traced the suspects to a Fulani settlement in Anguwan Mu’azu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State,” said the FCT police statement.
Four (4) suspects were arrested, and the victims were rescued unharmed. Additionally, ₦3.2 million, suspected to be ransom money from previous kidnapping operations, was recovered from the suspects.”
The rescued individuals are currently in stable condition and receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic.
