ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said its operatives in collaboration with the Nigerian Army have rescued five sisters of Nabeeha Al-kadriyar and other Abuja kidnap victims from Kajuru forest in Kaduna State.
Nabeeha Al-kadriyar and her five sisters, were among persons abducted at Zuma 1 Area of Bwari Area Council, the nation’s capital city on January 2, 2024.
Tribune Online reports a week ago that the kidnappers killed and dumped four bodies of the abductees at Ida, near Ushafa in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, over delay in payment of ransom.
Among the bodies were that of a secondary school student and daughter of Ekiti State-born Chief Legal Officer of the National University Commission (NUC), Folorunsho Ariyo, and a 400 level student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nabeeeha Al-kadriyar.
In this kidnapping incident which raised nationwide concern with some Nigerians crowdfunding for the victims’ release, Tribune Online also reports that following the killing of the eldest of the six Al-kadriyar sisters, the former Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, through his X-handle (formerly Twitter) disclosed that one of his friends has volunteered to pay N50m out of the N60m ransom.
However, the Nigerian Police, in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, on Sunday, through the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, quoted the FCT Police Commissioner Haruna Garba, said the Force’s concerted efforts with the troops of the Nigerian Army, on Saturday night, rescued the Abuja kidnapped victims from the Kajuru forest and have been reunited with their families.
“Following the relentless advancement of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command Anti-Kidnapping squad in a concerted effort with troops of the Nigerian Army, on the heels of the kidnappers that struck the Zuma 1 area in the Bwari Area Council on the 2nd of January 2024, The FCT Police has rescued the victims and reunited them with their families .
“The operatives successfully rescued the Victims around kajuru forest in Kaduna state at about 11:30 pm on Saturday 20th January 2024.
“While appreciating the Inspectors General of Police IGP Olukayode Egbetokun ph.D., NPM , for the deployment of the newly commissioned Special Intervention Squad , which has given an uplift to the existing security architecture of the FCT and has brewed public confidence, the Commissioner of Police FCT Command CP Haruna G. Garba psc , wishes to reiterate the Commands commitment to sustaining the robust security deployment made in the area and other parts of the Territory for the utmost maintenance of peace for all and sundry.
“The CP reiterated the Commands commitment to sustaining the robust security deployment made in the area and other parts of the Territory for the utmost maintenance of peace for all and sundry,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has refuted the story making rounds that a kidnapping incident took place at River Park estate in the nation’s capital.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), PPRO, SP Josephine Adeh also in a statement to newsmen quoted the FCT Police Commissioner, Haruna Garba as saying: “The FCT police Command is aware of the news making rounds about an alleged kidnapping incident at River Park estate in the early hours of today and wishes to state that contrary to reports, nobody was kidnapped in River Park Estate.
“One Nnandi Agu ‘m’ of Games Village only faked his own kidnap in an attempt to defraud his brother who lives within the said estate.
“The suspect is currently in police custody undergoing interrogation.
“While investigation is still ongoing, further developments would be communicated to the public.” (Tribune)
