Five of the six Al-Kadriyar sisters who were abducted from the Bwari area of Abuja in early January have regained their freedom.
Reports suggest that the Al-Kadriyar sisters were released around midnight of Saturday.
The sisters were abducted alongside their dad and some residents of the community. However, their father was immediately released purportedly to sort out the ransom.
The kidnappers had subsequently handed the family a deadline for the payment of ransom.
Last week, news emerged that Nabeeha, one of the sisters, was killed by the abductors.
After killing the victim, the bandits reportedly raised the ransom from N60 million to N100 million, while threatening to kill the remaining sisters.
Josephine Adeh, police public relations officer for the federal capital territory (FCT), said the sisters, alongside other victims kidnapped in the Bwari area, were rescued by security personnel from the Kajuru forest in Kaduna state.
“Following the relentless advancement of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command Anti-Kidnapping squad in a concerted effort with troops of the Nigerian Army, on the heels of the kidnappers that struck the Zuma 1 area in the Bwari Area Council on the 2nd of January 2024, the FCT Police has rescued the victims and reunited them with their families,” the statement reads.
“The operatives successfully rescued the victims around Kajuru forest in Kaduna state at about 11:30 pm on Saturday 20th January 2024.
“While appreciating the Inspectors General of Police IGP Olukayode Egbetokun ph.D., NPM, for the deployment of the newly commissioned Special Intervention Squad, which has given an uplift to the existing security architecture of the FCT and has brewed public confidence, the Commissioner of Police FCT Command CP Haruna G. Garba psc, wishes to reiterate the command’s commitment to sustaining the robust security deployment made in the area and other parts of the territory for the utmost maintenance of peace for all and sundry.”
There has been an escalation of kidnappings and banditry in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, in recent times.
On Saturday, the police announced that some of the kidnappers have been apprehended and their ammunition seized.
Nyesom Wike, minister of the FCT, has assured residents that security agencies have intensified efforts to nip the abductions and banditry in the bud.
The minister also said the kidnappers responsible for the spate of recent abductions would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
