A joint operation among the Nigerian military, State Security Services, members of the Hunters’ Group, and led by the FCT Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, has led to the rescue of a naval officer and two civilians, including the arrest of four suspected kidnappers.

The FCT Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in a statement on X, on Sunday, said the trio were kidnapped at about 07:35 p.m., on Friday, by heavily armed assailants who attacked Mamman Vatsa Estate Gate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire at moving vehicles.

Mrs Adeh said, “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 spokesperson said the command’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Isyaku Sharu, upon receiving the distress report, collaborated with the other security outfits to conduct an intense search-and-rescue operation across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Mu’azu, and Yelwa Hills, covering areas in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

She said, “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 (4) 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.”

Stating that the victims were in stable condition and receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic, Mrs Adeh noted that efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend the remaining suspects currently at large. She assured that security deployments had also been reinforced in Mpape and surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences.

She therefore advised members of the public to go about their daily activities without any apprehension, urging them to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police via the following emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, 07057337653; Complaint Response Unit: 08107314192.