Navy Lieutenant Cynthia Akor and her sister, who were kidnapped in Abuja, have regained their freedom following a joint operation by security forces.
The female naval officer attached to the Directorate of Media Operations (DMO), Defence Headquarters (DHQ) was kidnapped from their residence in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday night.
It was gathered that the abductors had already contacted the families and demanded a whopping sum of ₦100 million as ransom for their immediate release.
However, it is unclear if any sum was paid to facilitate their release.
But the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said the release followed a joint operation led by the Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and comprising of personnel of the Nigerian military, DSS, hunters, and members of the local Hunters’ Group.
“At approximately 7:35 PM on the said 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,” she said.
“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 Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and comprising of personnel of the Nigerian military DSS hunters, and members of the local Hunters’ Group.”
She said 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.
The Command’s spokesperson stated that 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.
During the process, “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.”
According to her, the victims are currently in stable condition and are receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic.
She stated that efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend the remaining suspects currently at large, stressing that security deployments has also been reinforced in Mpape and surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences.
