Navy Lieutenant Cynthia Akor and her sister, who were kidnapped in Abuja, have been freed following a joint operation by security forces. They were released around 1:30 a.m. in the Karu area of Abuja after a coordinated effort by the Guards Brigade, Naval Unit Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Akor, who serves at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), and her sister were abducted on Friday night in Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, by armed men who later contacted their family and demanded a N100 million ransom. Sources revealed that between Friday night and Saturday evening, N4 million was raised and paid to the kidnappers for the release of both sisters.
While negotiations were ongoing, security forces intensified their efforts to track the kidnappers. By early Sunday, March 23, the pressure from the security forces forced the abductors to abandon the victims in the Karu area of the FCT.
Sources confirmed that security operatives recovered cash and some of the victims’ personal belongings, including clothing, which the kidnappers left behind when they realized they were being pursued.
In a follow-up, security forces have detained some relatives of the kidnappers for questioning. Among those in custody are a suspect’s mother and sister, as well as another suspect’s father and wife, as authorities work to gather more intelligence on the gang’s operations.
