Navy Lieutenant Cynthia Akor and her sister, who were kidnapped in Abuja, have regained their freedom following a joint operation by security forces. Their release occurred 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. However, sources disclosed that between Friday night and Saturday night, N4 million was raised and paid to the kidnappers for both sisters.
While negotiations were ongoing, security operatives intensified their efforts to track the kidnappers. By early Sunday, March 23, their pursuit forced the abductors to abandon the victims in the Karu area of the FCT.
Sources confirmed that security forces recovered cash from the fleeing suspects, along with some of their personal belongings, including clothing. The kidnappers reportedly left behind the money and the victims upon realizing that security operatives were closing in on them.
In a further development, security forces have taken some of the kidnappers’ relatives into custody for questioning. Among those detained are a suspect’s mother and sister, while another suspect’s father and wife are also being held as authorities seek more intelligence on the gang’s operations.
