Cynthia Akor, the Naval officer who was abducted in Abuja, has been rescued by a joint taskforce comprising the military and officers of the Anti-kidnapping unit of the Federal Capital Territory of the Nigeria Police Force.
It was learnt that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), hunters as well as the local vigilantes group were part of the rescue mission in Nasarawa state.
The Naval officer and two others were reportedly abducted gunmen at Mamman Vatsa Estate gate, Mpape road in Abuja, around 7:34 pm on Friday.
Confirming the release of the victims, Deputy Commissioner of Police, operations in charge of the FCT command, DCP Isyaku Sharu, said acting on intelligence, the team raided a settlement in Anguwan Mu’azu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State, between 2am and 530 am on Sunday.
According to him, shortly after the attack, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of N500 million for the naval officer and N200 million each for the two civilians.
“And immediately up on receiving the distress call, an intense search-and-rescue operation by a combined team of taskforce was conducted across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Mu’azu, and Yelwa Hills, covering areas in the FCT and Nasarawa State where the victims were rescued at a settlement,” he said.
The deputy commissioner of police, however, said four suspects have been arrested while a sum of N3.5 million suspected to be ransom from previous kidnapping operations, was recovered from the suspects.
He said the victims were currently in stable condition and receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic, Abuja.
DCP Sharu, who said security deployment had also been reinforced in Mpape and surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences, urged members of the public to go about their daily activities without any apprehension.
He further urged residents of the FCT to continue to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police emergency numbers through 08032003913, 08028940883, 07057337653.
