Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, FCT command, in collaboration with the military, DSS personnel and local hunters, have rescued a kidnapped naval officer, Cynthia Akor, along with two civilians, who were abducted by armed criminals in Mpape, Abuja, on March 21, 2025.
This is even as the security personnel also neutralised three suspected armed robbers terrorising the FCT and its environs.
Confirming their rescue, FCT police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh said, “At approximately 7:35 pm on the said abduction date, heavily armed assailants attacked the Maman Vatsa Estate gate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire on moving vehicles before abducting the three victims.
“Shortly after the attack, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦500 million for the naval officer and ₦200 million each for the two civilians.”
The police further noted that “upon receiving the distress report, the deputy commissioner of police (Operations), FCT Police Command, DCP Isyaku Sharu, in collaboration with military authorities, mobilised a joint operation led by the Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and comprising of personnel of the Nigerian military, DSS personnel and members of the local hunters’ group.
“An intense search-and-rescue operation was conducted across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Mu’azu, and Yelwa Hills, covering areas in the FCT and Nasarawa State.
“Acting on credible intelligence, between 2:00 am and 5:30 am on March 23, 2025, operatives traced the suspects to a Fulani resettlement in Anguwan Mu’azu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State, where four suspects were arrested, and the victims were rescued unharmed.
Additionally, the sum of ₦3.2 million, suspected to be ransom money from previous kidnapping operations, was recovered from the suspects.”
The police said the victims are currently in stable condition and are receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic.
Speaking on the killing of the three armed robbers, the police spokesperson, FCT, SP Adeh, said they were killed during a midnight operation.
She said, “The operation began with a distress call put across to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Dei-Dei ‘A’ Division on February 12, 2025, at 11:50 PM, reporting an ongoing violent robbery in Filin-Dabo village. Responding swiftly, the DPO alerted the command’s Anti-kidnapping Unit. They coordinated with operatives from the 102 Battalion, Guards Brigade, the Civilian Joint Task Force, and local vigilante groups to mobilise to the scene.
“Upon spotting the joint security team, the six-member gang attempted to flee into nearby bushes, launching an ambush on the operatives. However, the security personnel responded with superior firepower, engaging the criminals in a fierce exchange.
Despite their attempts to escape, the suspects were subdued. The suspects who sustained various degrees of bullet wounds were rushed to Kubwa General Hospital where three of them were confirmed dead by medical doctors on duty, while the other three sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.”
