The Nigeria Police on Sunday said they have rescued a personnel of the Navy and two others, who were abducted by gunmen in Abuja.

It was gathered that the female naval officer attached to the Directorate of Media Operations, DMO, Defence Headquarters, DHQ, and the two others were abducted from their residence in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday night.

The kidnappers had already reportedly contacted the families and demanded N100 million as ransom for their immediate release.

It is unclear if any ransom was paid to facilitate their release at the time of filing this report.

However, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said the release followed a joint operation led by the Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and comprising of personnel of the Nigerian military DSS hunters, and members of the local Hunters’ Group.

“At approximately 7:35 PM on the said date, heavily armed assailants attacked the Maman Vatsa Estate gate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire on moving vehicles before abducting the three victims. Shortly after the attack, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of N500 million for the naval officer and N200 million each for the two civilians.

“Upon receiving the distress report, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, FCT Police Command, DCP Isyaku Sharu, in collaboration with military authorities, mobilized a joint operation led by the Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and comprising of personnel of the Nigerian military DSS hunters, and members of the local Hunters’ Group,” she said.

According to her, an intense search-and-rescue operation was conducted across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Mu’azu, and Yelwa Hills, covering areas in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

The Command’s spokesperson stated that acting on credible intelligence, between 2:00am 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.

During the process, she said four suspects were arrested, and the victims were rescued unharmed.

According to her, the victims are currently in stable condition and are receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic.

She stated that efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend the remaining suspects currently at large, stressing that security deployments has also been reinforced in Mpape and surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences.

Adeh also called on members of the public to go about their daily activities without any apprehension.

Nigeria Police, military rescue kidnapped naval officer, two others