Five kidnap victims rescued in Abuja

• The abductees were rescued in a joint operation by the FCT Special Intervention Squad and the FCT Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit

Five kidnap victims abducted by two different gangs of kidnappers in Abuja have been rescued, the police in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have said.

The abductees were rescued in a joint operation by the FCT Special Intervention Squad and the FCT Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, announced the development during a press conference on Monday at the Command headquarters.

According to her, “On January 27, at about 11:30 pm, a distress call was received at Iddo Division that sounds of gunshots were heard around Sabon Lugbe axis.

“A police patrol team was drafted to the scene where one Blessing Eze, female, was met with a bullet wound on her shoulder inside a Toyota Corolla car with RSH 724 KC, black in colour.

“Blessing explained that she and her husband, Joshua Eze, were returning home when some hoodlums in an unknown vehicle double-crossed them, fired at their vehicle and abducted her husband to an unknown destination.

“In response, the IGP-Special Intervention Squad and the Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command and other tactical sections swung into action, and the victim (Eze) was rescued unhurt at Kuje Forest on January 28 at about 6 :20 pm

“In a related development, on January 28, at about 05:30 am, one Peter Ede, in the company of one ThankGod Ogunyi, both males of Piwoyi, Lugbe, reported at Karmo Division that, on the same date at about 01:50 am while praying at Idu Gbagyi mountain Karmo, some criminal elements numbering about seven, armed with guns and cutlasses attacked them and abducted three of their members to an unknown destination.

“On receipt of the report, police operatives from Karmo Division led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Abaya Haruna, swiftly mobilized to the scene, combed the surrounding bushes and hills between Karmo to Gwagwa, and engaged the hoodlums in a serious gun duel.

“The three victims namely one Igbodi Emeka, male, Precious Uche, female, and Eric Chukwudi, male, were rescued unhurt.”