Police, Military Rescue Kidnapped Naval Officer, Two Others

Police said on Sunday that two members of the Nigerian Navy who were kidnapped by gunmen in Abuja had been rescued.

On Friday night, a female naval officer was abducted from her home in the Mpape neighborhood of the Federal Capital Territory and is now a member of the Directorate of Media Operations (DMO).

According to what was discovered, the abductors had already contacted the victims’ families and demanded a staggering sum of $ 100 million as ransom for their immediate release. However, it’s not clear if any money was spent to facilitate their release.

However, Josephine Adeh, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, claimed the release came after a joint operation spearheaded by the Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and involving local Hunters’ Group members and members of the country’s local Hunters’ Group.

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“Heavily armed assailants attacked the Maman Vatsa Estate gate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire on moving vehicles before abducting the three victims at approximately 7:35 PM on the said date.” The kidnappers contacted the victims’ families shortly after the attack, demanding a ransom of $500 million for the naval officer and $200 million for the two civilians, she said.

The Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, which included members of the local Hunters’ Group and members of the Nigerian military’s DSS hunters, mobilized a joint operation after receiving the distress report, according to DCP Isyaku Sharu, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations).

She claimed that Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Mu’azu, and Yelwa Hills were part of an extensive search-and-rescue operation that included areas of the FCT and Nasarawa State.

According to a spokesperson for the Command, operatives located the suspects between 2:00 AM and 5:30 AM on March 23, 2025, in Anguwan Mu’azu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State, based on credible intelligence.

“The victims were unharmed and four suspects were detained while this took place.” Additionally, the suspects were able to recover a sum of $3.2 million, which is thought to have been ransom money from earlier kidnapping operations.

The victims are currently receiving medical care at the Nigerian Army Clinic, and according to her, they are stable.

She emphasized that security deployments have also been increased in Mpape and the surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences, noting that efforts are still being made to locate and apprehend the remaining suspects who are still at large.

Source: Channels TV