•The Najeebah’s sisters
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Special Intervention Squad (SIS) has rescued some undisclosed kidnap victims shortly after it took over major routes in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, used by bandits to transport their victims out of Abuja into neighboring states of Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi.
The victims were rescued by the FCT 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 January 2, 2024, reports The Nation.
The police today, Sunday January 21, confirmed that all the victims, including five sisters (Nabeehe Al-Kadriyah) whose abduction had raised nationwide concerns, were rescued at about 11 pm yesterday.
The police said the victims have been reunited with their families.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, January 21, by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the operatives successfully rescued the victims around Kajuru forest in Kaduna State at about 11:30 pm yesterday, Saturday, January 20.
Recall that the Commander SIS, who is a Commissioner of Police (CP), Ben Igwe, told reporters in Abuja yesterday while taking other SIS squads and reporters around the routes that they have taken over major routes of the bandits.
He said: “This route where we are is the bandits’ route. From Oshafa here, they move through this route and go to Pappe, from Pappe they’ll enter areas like Maitama or Asokoro”.
The statement reads in part: “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.
“While appreciating the Inspector 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 Command’s 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 good people of FCT are hence encouraged to note the following emergency lines and promptly report suspicious activities; 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883. PCB: 09022222352.”