Abuja Security Rescues Naval Officer in 72 Hours, But Chikakore Kidnapping Victims Remain Missing for Months

Security Agencies comprising the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command and the military, have rescued a kidnapped naval officer and two civilians abducted by gunmen in Mpape, Abuja, on Friday, March 21.

The rescue mission was carried out within the 72 hours of kidnapping the victims.

The FCT Police Command disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, on Sunday, March 23.

The statement noted that at about 7:35 p.m. on Friday, gunmen stormed the Maman Vatsa Estate gate, obstructed Mpape Road, and fired at motorists before whisking away three people, including the naval officer.

Following the attack, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families and demanded ₦500 million for the naval officer and ₦200 million each for the two civilians.

“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 personnel of the Nigerian military, DSS hunters, 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,” the statement read in part.

The police further noted that acting on credible intelligence, security operatives conducted a raid between 2:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on March 23, and traced the suspects to a Fulani resettlement in Anguwan Mu’azu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State.

During the operation, four suspects were arrested, and the kidnapped victims were safely rescued.

It also disclosed that ₦3.2 million, suspected to be ransom proceeds from previous kidnappings, was recovered from the suspects. The victims were said to be in stable condition and had been placed on medical care at the Nigerian Army Clinic.

But Chikakore Community Kidnapped Yet-to-be-rescued months later

On January 27, the news went viral that kidnappers abducted four members of a family in Chikakore Community, Kubwa area of Abuja.

By January 28 to 29, the sad news of one of the victims kidnapped broke out. Kidnappers had allegedly killed her and left her body in area of Niger State.

Newspapers noted that one of the kidnap victims of the Monday morning attack in Chikakore area of Kubwa, in Bwari Area Council, Mrs Esther Adesiyan, reportedly lost her life while in captivity.

The deceased was kidnapped along with her husband, Mr. Adesiyan Akinropo, her son and her brother-in-law, who was visiting the family when gunmen came to the Adesiyan residence.

The police have further assured the public that efforts were underway to apprehend the remaining suspects and that security deployments had been reinforced in Abuja to prevent future attacks.

But the swift action it took to rescue one of the nation’s officers without any ransom paid, has never been taken in a long while when it comes to Nigerian victims of kidnappers.

In January, PIJAlance reports that Oyo Police Command said there was no technology infrastructure to track down kidnappers who were calling families of some kidnapped victims for ransom.

Eventually, ransom were paid for the victims to be freed and the Oyo police alongside security forces, did nothing.

Similar Abuja scenario played out in Ogun State in January where wife of a retired police officer was kidnapped. Actions were taken and sharply the wife regained freedom, again, without paying a ransom.

The police put it this way “In a commendable display of teamwork and swift action, police operatives attached to the Ogun State Command have successfully neutralized the kidnappers of Mrs. Odumosu, wife of Retired Assistant- Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, and rescued her unharmed.”

Afenifere Youth Council Leader, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, was just released from kidnappers den after paying a ransom.

Ojajuni was kidnapped weeks ago and was recorded in a video posted via his social media platform, appealing for donations to pay his ransom before he would be killed.

Since kidnappers used social media, IT experts have said that is the most easiest route to track abductors down and cub the menace of ransoms payments.

However, Ojajuni was not rescued that way. He paid for ransom then, was released by kidnappers.

In Abuja, Police keep urging residents to continue their lawful businesses without fear and to stay alert while promptly reporting any suspicious activities to the following emergency numbers for assistance: 08032003913, 08028940883, and 07057337653.

Previously, the ICIR reports that Mpape is among communities in Nigeria’s capital that have been under the siege of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals.

There have been several cases of kidnappings in all six area councils in the FCT, including Bwari, Kwali, Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), notably in the past five years.

However, while the government, under the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has been able to rein in the criminals in five area councils, the menace of kidnapping has persisted in Bwari Area Council.

This report highlights some of the insecurity incidents in the city as of December 2023.

Read Also: Gunmen Kidnap Varsity Lecturer, Demand N10 Million Ransom